Background
Created by José Mateo Ballet Theatre (JMBT) in 2008, Dance for World Community (DWC) is a partnership-based initiative that repositions and expands the traditional role of dance in local communities. Through a number of dance-based programs, Dance for World Community activates the inherent power of dance to bring people together, strengthen community cohesion and raise awareness about key social and environmental issues that threaten public safety and health in places throughout the world.
Accepting our moral responsibility to “think globally and act locally” the project has two discrete parts: The Local Partnership Model and The Global Network
The Local Partnership Model engages approximately 200 partners across Greater Boston’s public, private, and non-profit sectors, including city government, neighborhood businesses, local performance dance groups, instructors, cultural agencies, social service agencies and other non-profit organizations. DWC coordinates participation by these partners to produce free, or low-cost, dance-based events that welcome the entire community.
These events not only celebrate the richness and diversity of the Greater Boston dance scene, but also create strong, in-person connections among participating practitioners and provide important opportunities to raise public awareness about crucial local and global issues.
The Global Network is a learning community of diverse individuals and organizations who share an interest in expanding the role of dance to effect social change in local communities and around the world. The web-based network connects dance students, performance artists, administrators, authors and other dance aficionados who, as activists, are also working to raise awareness about social and environmental justice issues. Participants exchange experiences and ideas to inspire new ways to activate the power of dance for community-building and advocacy.
DWC Programs
Although the Annual Festival is DWC’s centerpiece, this event is only one of many ways that the project looks to activate the power of dance. DWC Programs over the years have included “Talk About Dance” events, “Dance on Film”, “Dance Saturdays”, “Relief Fundraisers” (Cambridge for Haiti; Cambridge for Ukraine), “Dance Against Racism” and Climate Change/Environmental Justice events (Emergency Meets; Choreographer-Scientist Collaborations).
The Annual DWC Festival is a free, day-long celebration that brings together artists, activists and the general public. The festival features more than 60 performances in diverse styles of dance on five stages, introductory-level classes in over 20 forms of dance, as well as exhibitions by social and environmental justice non-profits advocating for a greener, more just world.
In June 2025, JMBT presented DWC’s first conference. DWC Conference 2025 featured speakers, panels and discussions about the relationship between dance and activism with a focus on environmental justice and sustainability.
The conference, henceforth to be presented biennially, also marked the official launch of DWC’s Global Network that will welcome new voices and views of dance practitioners and supporters from beyond the local areas.
Our Team
Note: The following section of this page is under construction.
Drawing on the talents of JMBT’s staff, key players in DWC programs are:
Jocé Mateo, Founder
Scott Fraser, Executive Director
Isobel Chang, Marketing Director
Shannon Sheridan, Director of Development
Yummi Wang, Development Associate
Richard P. Shea, CHAIR
Erline Belton
Michelle Caldeira
Bithiah Carter
Meredith Caruso
Roberta Chicos
Brian Corr
Elisa Daley
Lynne Federman
Natalie Ferris
Elizabeth Fischer
Deana Martin
José Mateo
Thaddeus Miles
Annie Mock
Sheryl Bono Morgan
Elaine Shannon
Nuri Chandler Smith
Folashade Solomon
Scott Fraser, EX OFFICIO
Gerald J. Caruso, TRUSTEE EMERITUS