who we are
OUR Mission
dance your life
We know that dancing your life can change your life! We experience this joy in our own lives and wish to share it with you!
At Dance It Forward, our mission is to spread joy, creativity, and connection through dance by offering vibrant, enriching, and healthy “dancexperiences” to our community. We provide high-quality dance education using professional standards, dynamic performances, and meaningful outreach, ensuring that students of all levels, ages, and aspirations may participate, regardless of financial means. We empower dancers to grow, express, and succeed—on and off the stage.
Our Philosophy
We are so much more than just a dance studio. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we strive to make dance classes accessible for all, regardless of age, race, gender, dance level, or ability to pay. At Dance It Forward, we keep your dancer happy, healthy, safe and loved. We believe that Dance is a commitment to principles, an art form beyond rankings and judgment. This is why we are NOT a competition school.
Dance It Forward is the premier destination for top-tier dance training! Our award-winning programs set the standard for excellence, offering the best dance education in the region. With a legacy of success, our students have gone on to perform professionally on stages around the world. Join us and be part of a community that inspires greatness!
A Legacy of Excellence
For 55 years, DIF has cultivated exceptional dancers and prepared high school students for successful admissions to prestigious university dance programs, with many earning scholarships. By emphasizing strong technical training and artistic development, DIF ensures its dancers are equipped to thrive in collegiate programs and beyond.
Recognized as York County’s “Best of the Best” year after year, Dance It Forward is a cornerstone of the community, committed to making dance accessible and impactful for all.
S A F E L Y W E D A N C E
Background Checked Staff
Mandated Reporter Staff
Use of Written Curriculum
Secure and Updated Facility
New, Serviced HVAC units
Full Time Admin Support Staff
Video Monitoring Used
Not a Competition School
A F F I L I A T I O N S
American Academy of Ballet
Dance Educators of America
DiscoverDance
Mission Partner:
Cultural Alliance of York County
National Dance Education Organization
National Honor Society for Dance Arts
Progressing Contemporary Technique
At Dance It Forward, we believe in the power of movement to inspire, educate, and uplift. As a nonprofit organization, our mission is to provide dancers of all backgrounds with exceptional training, mentorship, and performance opportunities, all while fostering a supportive community that encourages artistry and personal growth.
Education & Excellence – We offer professional training that nurtures technique, confidence, and creativity for dancers of all ages.
Performance & Expression – Through the Greater York Youth Ballet and our performance opportunities, we bring dance to the stage, creating dynamic productions that captivate audiences.
Arts & Entertainment – We are an arts entertainment group dedicated to enriching the community through inspiring performances and artistic outreach.
our faculty's responsibility
WHO WE ARE DRIVES our mission
For more than FIVE decades, our school has been a leader in dance education. Our reputation for inspiring young people to be the best dancers they can be is one of the primary reasons for our success. When we say “the best dancers they can be,” we speak inclusively of every student, whether at the recreational, progressive or pre-professional level.
We believe a teacher’s influence on the future of a student extends far beyond the classroom. Our teaching philosophy is centered on instilling a passion for dance while building confidence in every student. The students’ well-being is our priority; their capability is secondary.
we seek to build community
CREATING artists
Our Teaching Philosophy drives our mission. Health, safety and wellness come above all things. To teach dance in a fun, safe, and gentle environment that enhances self-esteem through challenge.
Classical dance and ballet is the cornerstone of our programs, and students are assured that a solid technical base will be developed in their dance studies.
We seek to build a community of dance artists that extends beyond the studio—we aim to inspire and uplift others across the Susquehanna Valley, serving as both a cultural cornerstone and a bridge to artistic fulfillment.
Dance It Forward is more than just a school—it is a CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE that includes a company, an outreach program, and an arts entertainment group dedicated to enriching lives through dance. By uniting the arts, education, and community, we create opportunities for growth, expression, and connection that leave a lasting impact.
Our dance classes are divided into three SCHOOLS
Intensity of Training
Your Choice
RECREATIONAL
PROGRESSIVE
PRE-PROFESSIONAL
You were
born to dance
our core values
health. Integrity. Creativity. inclusion.
BELONGING, deliberate practice.
Your mindset determines how you will handle situations and what you will do.
Those with a growth mindset believe that these abilities can be developed and strenthened with time and experience.
As opposed to a fixed mindset that believes that qualities and talents are unchangeable.
We believe in bringing dance to all people.
Community Service
National Honor
Society for Dance Arts
Founded by NDEO in 2005, NHSDA recognizes outstanding dance students for their artistic and academic achievements, bringing honor, prestige, and reward.
Benefits for Students
Induction is based on points earned through dance excellence, teamwork, motivation, outreach, choreography, teaching, and performance. Members receive a Certificate of Membership, resume and scholarship distinction, the opportunity to wear honor cords and pins at graduation, and eligibility for the NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award. NHSDA members also share their skills through free community dance lessons..
Our Ensemble combines artistry with service. Members have led projects such as Toys for Tots, United Way Kickoff, Light Up York, York Symphony Children’s Concert, and the Degas Project. They’ve hosted creative events like the Little Peeps Party and supported agencies including Leg Up Farm, York Rescue Mission, and Make-A-Wish. Many members also hold leadership roles in area schools while training over 20 hours per week in dance.
Board of Directors
The Leadership consists of passionate community leaders who know the difference that dance, and the arts can make in the lives of everyone.
Terrance Atwood
Corissa Fetrow
Melinda Fritz
Lori Garling
Barbara Knox
Laura McClure
Duane Swartz
Shana Garling, Founding Director (1971-2020)
Beth Herbst, Trustee Emeritus
FACULTY & STAFF
We maintain a staff of recognized professionals who combine their experience and technical expertise to offer superior, one-of-a-kind training and encouragement to students of all ages, levels and aspirations. Be assured that our faculty has background checks and clearances as healthy and safety always come first.
Shana Garling founded our organization in 1971. She served for 49 years, and we thank her for her passion for dance and children. She believed in kindness and has passed her loving ways onto the very heart of all we do. We curtsey to you, Shana... We know that you are dancing with us in heaven. Know, dear Shana, that you were loved and respected. Your life made a difference to this world.
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