In May, 2000, the Foundation's dance program, everybody dance!, opened its doors in a low−income housing project just west of downtown. The program started with 35 students in 12 weekly classes.  Demand for dance classes was so intense, however, that the program was forced to keep adding classes and establishing wait lists. There are now over 900 students enrolled in 103 weekly dance classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hip- hop and modern at three state−of−the−art dance studios in the Pico−Union, Rampart and Koreatown communities of Los Angeles.

In 2005, the Foundation opened a dance−themed public elementary charter school – one of the first such schools in the United States.  Gabriella Charter School students study dance one hour each day and dance is infused into the standards−based curriculum.

  

With the help and support of many individuals and organizations, The Gabriella Axelrad Education Foundation, through its programs everybody dance! and the Gabriella Charter School, is giving Los Angeles' underserved children a chance to expand their potential and broaden their horizons through the arts.  Both school and dance programs strive to instill in our students a love of learning, dance and the arts, while increasing their chances for a productive future.