Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange

- 4030 Kilmer Ave, Allentown, PA 18104

For dance artists and enthusiasts in Pennsylvania, particularly within the vibrant Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange (LVDE) is a name that resonates with opportunity, artistry, and community. More than just a traditional dance school, LVDE is a dynamic hub that has been dedicated to creating and supporting a strong professional dance presence in the region since its founding in 2009. By bringing together talented individuals, various arts programs, and organizations, LVDE has successfully cultivated a rich environment for dance professionals to network, share resources, and showcase their work. It is a vital institution that enhances the cultural landscape of Allentown and the surrounding areas, making professional dance more accessible to both artists and audiences.

The core mission of the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange is to foster professional dance through collaboration and community engagement. The organization is a liaison for individuals and groups, helping them to share performance costs, locate artists, and host master classes and workshops. This collaborative spirit is central to everything LVDE does, and it has allowed the organization to produce more than 60 performances and hire over 150 teaching artists. This focus on empowering local talent is what makes LVDE so special. It provides a platform for artists to create and perform new works that speak directly to the people, culture, and issues of the Lehigh Valley, ensuring that dance remains a relevant and vibrant art form within the community.

This article is a comprehensive guide designed to help you discover the valuable resources and opportunities offered by the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange. We will delve into its location and accessibility, the variety of services and programs it facilitates, and the key features that make it a cornerstone of the professional dance scene in Pennsylvania. We understand that for dancers and choreographers, finding a supportive and professional community can be challenging. LVDE fills this gap by building confidence and artistic maturity in dancers through consistent training and performance opportunities. The organization is committed to being an equal opportunity platform, prioritizing accessibility of the performing arts for underserved populations and ensuring that dance is for everyone.

LVDE’s commitment to the local community is also evident in its goal to provide "low-cost, high-quality and diverse creative experiences." The annual SpringUP Dance Festival is a prime example of this mission in action, offering a free festival that includes master classes and performances by guest artists from New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. This festival is a major highlight on the local arts calendar and a testament to the organization's ability to bring high-level dance to the community without financial barriers. The organization's commitment to accessibility is a core value, which is reflected in their offerings and partnerships.

Through its various programs, LVDE serves as a crucial networking hub for the Lehigh Valley dance community, facilitating future collaborations, friendships, and support systems among artists. It is a place where dancers, choreographers, and companies can come together to share their work and explore the potential of professional dance in the region. The organization’s impact is significant, not only in its quantitative achievements, such as the number of performances produced and artists hired, but also in the intangible benefits it provides—like fostering creativity, building connections, and strengthening the local arts scene.

Location and Accessibility

While the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange is not a fixed-location studio with a single permanent home, its mailing address is 4030 Kilmer Ave, Allentown, PA 18104, USA. As an organization that operates on a collaborative model, LVDE utilizes various venues and facilities across the Lehigh Valley for its events, workshops, and performances. This includes partnerships with local colleges and arts venues like Cedar Crest College and SteelStacks. The organization prioritizes accessibility, and its commitment is reflected in the fact that it utilizes facilities, where available, that feature a wheelchair-accessible car park. This dedication to inclusivity ensures that all members of the community can attend and participate in its events.

Services Offered

The Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange focuses on providing a professional and collaborative environment rather than offering a traditional schedule of recreational classes. Their services are geared toward supporting the local dance community.

• Professional Workshops and Master Classes: LVDE regularly hosts open master classes with accomplished teaching artists, choreographers, directors, and dancers. These classes provide high-quality training opportunities for professional-level and advanced dancers aged 16 and up.
• Performance Opportunities: The organization produces several annual performance showcases, including the popular SpringUP Dance Festival and Dance EXposure at SteelStacks, providing a platform for local artists to show their work.
• Creative Collaborations: LVDE serves as a hub for artists to network and collaborate on new works, sharing resources and expertise.
• Educational Initiatives: The organization supports scholarship opportunities for dancers in financial need and engages the community in the creation of new works.
• Community-Wide Events: LVDE maintains an events calendar and facilitates various community-wide gatherings to promote dance throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Features / Highlights

The Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange is unique in its mission and approach, setting it apart as a vital resource for the Pennsylvania dance community.

• Hub for Professionals: It serves as a centralized network for professional-level dancers, choreographers, and companies in the Lehigh Valley, fostering a vibrant scene.
• Collaborative Model: The organization is built on the principle of collaboration, leveraging the resources of multiple venues and artists to provide diverse opportunities.
• Commitment to Accessibility: LVDE aims to make the performing arts accessible to underserved populations and utilizes facilities with wheelchair-accessible amenities.
• Diverse Offerings: The organization facilitates workshops and performances in a variety of styles, from contemporary and jazz to ballet.
• Community Engagement: LVDE actively engages the community by hosting free festivals and performances, and by creating works that reflect local culture and issues.

Contact Information

For inquiries about workshops, performances, or collaboration opportunities, you can contact the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange.

Address: 4030 Kilmer Ave, Allentown, PA 18104, USA

Phone: (610) 657-7078

What is Worth Choosing

For dancers and dance lovers in the Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange is an invaluable resource that is absolutely worth choosing to engage with. It is a vital organization that addresses a significant need in the local arts community—a professional, collaborative, and accessible platform for dance. Unlike a single-studio dance school, LVDE's strength lies in its ability to connect artists and audiences across the region, leveraging collective resources to produce high-quality work and training opportunities. This innovative model provides an exceptional value to the community.

For aspiring or established professional dancers, LVDE offers crucial opportunities for training and performance that would otherwise be difficult to find locally. The chance to take master classes from world-renowned artists and perform at professional venues like SteelStacks is a major draw. For the general public, LVDE makes high-quality dance accessible and affordable, with events like the SpringUP Dance Festival being offered free of charge. This commitment to engaging the wider community, not just a select group of artists, is what makes LVDE a truly remarkable organization. By choosing to support or participate in LVDE, you are contributing to the growth and sustainability of a thriving professional arts scene in Allentown and beyond, enriching the cultural life of all of Pennsylvania. It's an investment in art, community, and the future of dance in the region.

Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange

4030 Kilmer Ave, Allentown, PA 18104, USA