The three-pronged vision for MPD Dance can be summed up through the words, ‘Inspire. Inform. Educate.”

“Inspire” refers to the company, The Wanda Project (TWP). My goal is for TWP to fill a void for a professional dance company in the regions east of Columbia. As TWP performs classical ballet, modern and jazz dance genres, it will provide exposure to more than one view of what dance is. The company will need to have performance and pay opportunities that reflect their professional status and encourage dancers to stay in the region. They must be respected artistically in the region, the state and eventually on a national and international level. Children in the Midlands-Pee Dee area need to know and see that these experiences are available to them, even if they don’t live in a major metropolitan area.

“Inform” refers to the educational outreach activities of TWP, “providing a window to the professional dance experience.” MPD Dance will work tirelessly to identify areas that could benefit from exposure to dance education. This may include after school programs in underserved areas, community centers, Boys and Girls’ Clubs, church meeting rooms or other places with a smooth floor and kids who need a positive focus and a reason to respect their bodies more. In a time of childhood obesity as a norm, people are looking for ways to help children improve their health.

“Educate” refers to a process, through which TWP company members who are teaching outreach classes identify those students with the natural ability, focus and drive to merit more advanced training in dance. When a sufficient number of these students have been identified, MPD Dance will create opportunities for more advanced training. These may include intermediate and advanced level classes in one centralized location, the introduction of Pilates mat work to maximize strength and flexibility, instruction on writing resumes and cover letters, finding dance scholarships, summer programs and job auditions, audition preparation workshops and master classes with guest artists