team

sARA - Founder
My name is Sara, and I am a high school sophomore from Chicago. I have been dancing since the age of two. Over the years, I’ve danced jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, modern, acro, musical theater, and more! Dance has given me a means to express myself, a way to feel comfortable expressing myself in front of audiences, and more confident in my own skin.
Competing has brought me a multitude of new friends and dance “families,” and helped me to develop a work ethic, resilience, and stamina. Competitions have taken me all the way to Florida (where I won at nationals!), and this year, I’ll be dancing in Arizona.
I’ve been so fortunate to be able to dance throughout my life. However, I understand that there are costs associated with dancing and competing that make it inaccessible to some people. That is why I founded Dressed to Dance: to eliminate barriers to dance.

shilpa - Executive director
Shilpa is based in Chicago and is thrilled to be a part of Dressed to Dance! She has a BA in Applied Math from Northwestern University, an MBA from The University of Chicago, and a Masters of Gastronomy from The University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy. Most recently, she headed Operations for an upcycling food startup and is passionate about preventing waste (of all types!) and helping the environment. Follow her adventures at Arcadian Fare.

PARTNERS
Dance on Broadway is a studio in Chicago on mission to provide the highest quality dance training for both children and adults in an atmosphere which promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. They are committed to inspiring our students to work to their full potential, and to express themselves artistically in a positive and professional environment.
Dance Peace is an initiative where refugee children and families in areas of social tension integrate peacefully into their communities through dance.
En Las Tablas Performing Arts (ELTPA) is a nonprofit community arts organization established in Chicago in 2006 to offer children and adults from the Hermosa Neighborhood, and surrounding communities, affordable access to an array of performing arts classes and professional artistic training opportunities.
KIPP Chicago consists of eight schools educating more than 3,600 students in grades K-8 from the South and West Sides of Chicago.
Teatro Tariakuri provides a spotlight for underrepresented voices to express themselves, to be seen, and understood. Based in the Southwest Chicago Lawn neighborhood, they are dedicated to producing Spanish-language productions for Chicago’s Mexican American immigrant community
Akanksha Education Fund supports initiatives to improve access to high-quality education for children from low-income communities in India, and create pathways out of poverty for them through a transformative education.
Living Arts Dance, Inc. was established in 2006, with the mission to provide professional performing arts programs for all.
Synapse Arts is a dance-theater company based in Chicago, Illinois. They present professional performances, teach classes to children and adults, and mentor emerging artists. All of their work supports women and LGBTQIA+ artists.
Chocolate Ballerina Company is a contemporary community-based dance organization, that supports the hidden talents in youth and adult artists of color in the Philadelphia region.