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

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."