FrediDance Project

- 2890 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33803

The FrediDance Project is a unique and impactful presence in the Lakeland, Florida, arts community. Operating as a non-profit organization and a contemporary dance company, it stands out for its deep commitment to using dance as a vehicle for social change and education. Founded by the talented and visionary artistic director, Ferdinand “Fredi” De Jesus, the organization identifies as Latino-owned and brings a fresh perspective to the Florida dance scene. For residents of Polk County and beyond, the FrediDance Project is more than just a performance group; it's an institution dedicated to fostering artistic development, inspiring social awareness, and providing professional-level training to a new generation of dancers. Its work often delves into introspective and thought-provoking topics, aiming to evoke emotion and inspire global change, particularly for disenfranchised and marginalized minority groups.

The FrediDance Project is particularly known for its focus on pre-professional dance training. It is the resident dance company at the Ultimate Dance Center, a premier studio in Polk County. This partnership allows the FrediDance Project to host high-level junior and senior intensive programs throughout the year. The goal of these programs is to help aspiring dancers grow their technique and explore choreography, with the ultimate aim of inspiring them to pursue professional dance careers. The company's unique approach to artistry and its mission of social advocacy make it a standout organization in the Central Florida cultural landscape. By providing a platform for meaningful and introspective works, the FrediDance Project is a powerful voice that uses the universal language of dance to challenge perspectives and promote a more inclusive world.

The FrediDance Project is located at 2890 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33803, USA. Its presence within the Ultimate Dance Center facility makes it a central and easily accessible destination for dancers and audience members in the Lakeland area and surrounding communities. The organization prioritizes accessibility, ensuring that its programs and performances are open to all. The location features a wheelchair-accessible car park and a wheelchair-accessible entrance, which are crucial for ensuring that individuals with mobility challenges can comfortably and safely visit the facility. This dedication to inclusivity is a reflection of the organization's broader mission to make dance accessible and welcoming to everyone. Being situated on a major road, the location is simple to find for those traveling from anywhere in Polk County, and the collaboration with Ultimate Dance Center helps to solidify its status as a significant player in the local arts scene.

As a non-profit dance company, the FrediDance Project offers a range of services and programs that serve both the artistic and educational needs of the community.

• Dance Company: It functions as a professional contemporary dance company, creating and presenting works that explore social and personal themes.
• Summer Intensive Programs: The company hosts rigorous summer intensives for intermediate and advanced dancers, ages 12 and up, who are committed to enhancing their training on a pre-professional level. These programs feature guest instructors from around the country.
• Educational Workshops: The company offers various workshops that focus on technique, choreography, and artistic development, inspiring young dancers to seek professional careers.
• Community Performances: The FrediDance Project provides free dance performances at numerous community art events throughout Polk County, making high-quality dance accessible to the public.
• Classes for Students: It offers weekly dance classes to various students, including free opportunities for public and private schools (K-12).
• Scholarships and Affordable Tuition: Through initiatives like its Summer Intensive Program and other opportunities, the FrediDance Project provides scholarships and affordable tuition to students, especially those from low-income and marginalized families.
• Special Creative Experience: A program that offers weekly dance classes specifically to students with special developmental needs.
• Rainbow Room Program: A dedicated initiative that provides a safe space for LGBTQ students and their families, promoting diversity and acceptance through art.

The FrediDance Project stands out for its mission-driven work and its unique position in the Central Florida arts landscape.

• Latino-owned: As a Latino-owned organization, it brings a fresh cultural perspective and leadership to the arts community, serving as a positive example of diversity and inclusion.
• Non-profit model: Its status as a non-profit allows it to focus on its mission of social change and education, rather than on profit. This enables it to provide free and affordable opportunities to the community.
• Social advocacy through art: The company's core mission is to use contemporary dance to address social issues and promote awareness for disenfranchised groups, making its work both artistically compelling and socially relevant.
• Professional training opportunities: The rigorous summer intensives and workshops provide a pre-professional training experience, giving local dancers a chance to work with top-tier professionals and pursue careers in dance.
• Inclusivity: The FrediDance Project is highly inclusive, with programs like the Special Creative Experience and the Rainbow Room Program dedicated to serving a diverse range of students and families, including those with special needs and those from the LGBTQ+ community.
• Community focus: The company actively engages with the local community, from providing free performances to offering educational opportunities in schools, demonstrating a strong commitment to making a positive impact beyond the studio.

For more information on the FrediDance Project, its programs, or to get involved, you can contact the organization directly.

Address: 2890 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33803, USAPhone: (863) 417-5668

What makes the FrediDance Project a truly exceptional choice for anyone in the Florida region is its powerful combination of high-caliber artistic work and a profound social mission. It is not just a place to watch or learn dance; it is a catalyst for change and a hub for community enrichment. For dancers, it offers a pathway to professional development that is both challenging and supportive, providing an opportunity to work with world-renowned choreographers and artists. For community members, it provides access to meaningful, thought-provoking art that addresses important issues. The organization's dedication to inclusivity is a major selling point, with its programs for special needs students and its safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. The fact that it is a non-profit and offers scholarships and affordable tuition shows that its primary goal is to serve the community, not just to make a profit. By choosing to engage with the FrediDance Project, whether as a student, a supporter, or an audience member, you are contributing to an organization that believes in the transformative power of art and is actively working to make the world a better place, making it an invaluable local asset for the Florida community.

FrediDance Project

2890 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33803, USA