This year’s event will take place in the H’Doubler Performance space in UW–Madison’s Lathrop Hall (1050 University Ave). ​The event is free and open to the public.

The program, which is co-directed by UW-Madison’s Kate Corby and Mariah LeFeber, has provided a series of experiential movement and performance classes to over 350 under-resourced local youth throughout the past year. Corby is an associate professor who chairs the School of Education’s Dance Department. Since its launch in 2012, the program has grown exponentially. There are currently 11 UW-Madison student teachers, serving 11 community and school sites, under the leadership of Mary Patterson, the program’s outreach specialist and dance/movement therapist.

The annual Performing Ourselves Showcase performances are the culmination of a year of instruction by program staff and undergraduate dance majors who work collaboratively with preschool, elementary, middle, and high school youth to create new choreography.

This year the program partnered with: the Allied Learning Center, East Madison Community Center, Elver Park Neighborhood Center, Goodman Community Center, Kennedy Heights Community Center, Lussier Community Education Center, Mendota Elementary School, Vera Court Neighborhood Center, Aldo Leopold Elementary School, and the Madison Community Montessori School.

This year’s programming is supported by the UW-Madison Dance Department, Professional Learning and Community Education in the School of Education, American Girl Fund for Children, the Evjue Foundation, Inc., Endres Manufacturing Co. Foundation, the School of Education’s Virginia Horne Henry Fund for Women’s Physical Education and Movement, Dane Arts, Door Creek Church, Madison Arts Commission, the Wisconsin Arts Board, and many generous individuals.

Performing Ourselves aims to foster creativity and connection, empower youth, and develop leaders through dance. Corby says it facilitates an active learning experience for youth in Madison by engaging them in the process of creation and performance as a means of engendering empowerment and identity.

For more information on Performing Ourselves ​visit their facebook page or website.