$10,000 Grant to Expand UE Dance Program in Evansville Promise NeighborhoodForward Together GO GrantsEvansville Promise NeighborhoodRead full article…

Posted: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
By: University Communications

The University of Evansville (UE) Dance Company is one of the local organizations receiving funding through Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry's Forward Together GO Grants, with $10,000 awarded to support the expansion of its award-winning dance program throughout the Evansville Promise Neighborhood.

The grant will help the UE Dance Company (UEDC) expand access to dance education and healthy living experiences for children in the Promise Neighborhood, bringing the university's talented dance students and faculty into the community in a meaningful and sustained way.

"This grant gives us an opportunity to change lives," said Erin Lewis, Executive Director of Center for Innovation & Change. "We know dance is transformative, but it's also often cost prohibitive for families. We can now bring those lessons directly to the kids in after school programs. We are so grateful to Mayor Terry and the Forward Together GO Grants for investing in opportunities that make a lasting difference for children."

Through the program, UEDC instructors will visit EPN schools twice a week for ten weeks, teaching the basics of ballroom dance through the Mad Hot Ballroom curriculum, which culminates in a showcase of the students' skills at a competition between the schools. Participants will wear fitness trackers during lessons to study step count and heart rate, and create journals to reflect on the experience. UE students will serve as mentors and instructors, connecting their academic and artistic experiences with the needs of the Evansville community.

As Indiana's only Ashoka Changemaker Campus, UE has a long history of using the arts, education and community partnerships to help students discover their potential and make a difference in the lives of others. This program furthers that commitment by making high-quality dance experiences more accessible to young people in the community. The UE Dance Company launched in 2017, and is home to Mad Hot Ballroom, UE's Dance Camp, and the new Silver Aces program, inclusive dance instruction available to individuals 50+ in partnership with the Bronstein Foundation.

The Forward Together GO Grants are an initiative of Mayor Terry's administration designed to support local organizations and projects that strengthen Evansville and create opportunities for residents.