Pack Dance, formerly CKDC

Pack Dance is a community education center and professional dance company. Pack Dance reflects the diverse identities of the residents of St. Louis and its surrounding region. We demonstrate and practice a commitment to racial and cultural equity through the dance styles we offer and by centering diversity in hiring teaching artists and company members. We are committed to using dance to incubate a compassionate shared experience with creative practices that center and celebrate diverse cultures, and to make classes and performances accessible to those who are marginalized by systemic economic oppression and neglect.

Movement is a universal language that connects us all, it is fundamental to the development of personal well-being and serves as an authentic outlet for creativity and expression. We commit ourselves to providing accessible outlets for our community to engage in movement arts, and to maintain a diverse environment that honors equality, equity and compassion.

We make dance accessible in a variety of ways including; scheduled free, public performances both in theaters and at community events in partnership with other cultural institutions, adaptive dance programming for persons with different abilities, scholarship opportunities for youth arts education programs, flexible education opportunities geared specifically toward working class adults and through the inclusion of professional performing artists into the company who have other full time commitments, families and obligations outside the organization.

Pack Dance produces two full-length dance concerts every year and performs in over a dozen other community, cultural events. 

We provide unique dance instruction for youth in a non-competitive environment. Individual expression and creativity is encouraged and no strict dress code is required for our students to participate. In addition to releasing the burden of expensive shoes and costumes, our pricing is also specifically designed to make our education programming accessible for all. We also offer scholarship opportunities to families who need additional assistance. Pack Dance attracts a diverse student body bringing students together from all different religious, races, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds and from all over the Greater St. Louis area. Afterschool and weekend programming is offered year-round, in addition to an all day dance and art camp every summer. Our all day summer camp is popular for working families because it takes place the last weeks of summer to bridge the gap between most summer programming ending and the academic year starting. We provide additional flexibility for working families by offering early drop-off and late pick up options.

In addition to offering inclusive youth education for all ages and levels, Pack Dance also caters to career-minded artists through the Professional Development, Internship and Junior Company programs. Youth age 15 - 19 are welcome to participate in one or all of these programs annually. Our Professional Development and Internship programs dive deeper into the creative and administrative world of dance and arts management. These programs expose students to real life learning in the area of social entrepreneurship in a safe and supportive environment. Students learn life skills that are not covered in academic classrooms. 

We have a full schedule of adult drop-in dance classes that is unique to the greater St. Louis area. Classes specialize in adult instruction and cater to the schedules of busy professionals and families and allow the public to engage with dance as an art form. There are no leveled classes at Pack. Our talented teaching artists offer modifications for people who have no dance experience while simultaneously offering amplifications for experienced dancers. Our classes are drop-in by design which means that even if you attend a class where the teacher has already taught the choreography, the entire piece will be taught again, from the beginning. Adult students praise our dance program for its therapeutic benefits. This specialized education model provides busy professionals and adult family members access to the mental and physical benefits of dance and ensures a more connected sense community.

Pack Dance opens its doors to worthy artists of many disciplines including but not limited to movement art, graphic art and choreography. We support artists who are pursuing their passions part time while holding on to other full time careers and family commitments. We contract over 30 artists annually and have two full time artist administrators. We are proud to have a diverse board and volunteer base as well as a strong body of donors and community supporters.