UAlbany Dance Council Brings Free After-School Dance Club to Local Elementary School

A group of children and adults in light blue shirts gather around Damien, UAlbany's Great Dane mascot, and pose for a celebratory picture in front of a screen that says "dance"

Students from the Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology visited UAlbany recently to show off a dance routine they created at an afterschool dance club led by the UAlbany Dance Council. (Photos provided)

By Bethany Bump

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 10, 2025) — This past spring, members of the University at Albany Dance Council traveled to the Albany City School District’s Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology to bring a free after-school dance program to local elementary students.

The idea for the program came about last fall when the Dance Council, with the help of faculty advisor and History Professor Camelia Lenart, secured an Inclusive Excellence Award from the University’s Division of Inclusive Excellence for efforts to promote inclusion within the campus and local community.

Children in light blue shirts excitedly pose with UAlbany mascot Damien

“When Dr. Lenart and I sat down in the beginning of September we felt compelled to use the award to foster community among UAlbany students and dancers and the local community of dancers,” said Hope Tallon, who served as president of the Dance Council this past year and graduated in May.

Recognizing how costly dance classes can be, the UAlbany Dance Council, the largest student-run dance club on campus known for its fall and spring dance recitals in the Performing Arts Center, decided to create a program that would allow area children the opportunity to dance, regardless of financial barriers, said Lenart.

Each Friday throughout the spring semester, four members of the Dance Council’s leadership team traveled to the Albany elementary school to work with 15 students in grades 3–5, teaching them dance technique and guiding them in building original choreography. Together, they created a routine that celebrated each student’s uniqueness, individuality, energy and creativity.

The program culminated with a visit to UAlbany on April 25. The young dancers were treated to a campus tour, lunch at Baba’s Pizza and UAlbany Dance Council shirts featuring dancer illustrations they had drawn themselves. The day ended with a showcase that allowed the students to perform the dance routines they had learned throughout the semester to an audience of UAlbany administrators and guests.

"This day was not only impactful to be a part of but to have led,” Tallon said. “I know that it certainly inspired some of our kiddos to become future Great Danes and hopefully future UADC dancers.”

Children in light blue shirts stand on the UAlbany podium on a bright sunny day

Lenart, a trained dancer who has served as advisor to the Dance Council for over seven years, called the performance the highlight of the day.

“Their joy, talent, and spirit filled the room — reminding us all why community engagement through the arts matters so deeply,” she said.

This was the second year in a row that Lenart secured an Inclusive Excellence Award for the Dance Council. In 2023, she secured an award to help bring student dancers from UAlbany’s various dance clubs together with the Dance Council to explore hip-hop as an artistic and social movement.

"The University at Albany proudly supports initiatives like the UAlbany Dance Council’s after-school program collaboration with the Albany City School District at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology, which reflects our commitment to inclusive excellence, community engagement and service," said Lakia Green, associate director of programming for the Division of Inclusive Excellence at UAlbany. "This student-led effort provides access to dance education, fosters creativity, and connects young learners to the possibilities of higher education — all while supporting UAlbany students through this enriching experiential leadership and service opportunity."