Missing Out: Teen Dance Education and the Gap in Dance Companies' Educational Provision

Teen programming is a common mode of educational engagement at U.S. art museums. By capitalizing on this programming, museums seek to strengthen their young audience development and community relationships. In comparison, there is a dearth of such institution-based teen programming at professional dance companies. This essay examines what sorts of institution-based teen programming initiatives New York City dance companies have implemented, and the primary organizational factors that make the establishment of institution-based teen programming so challenging for them. It also explores other program models that are happening outside of dance companies that might be instructive for future developments in the field.