5th Element Center for Dance

Help us

• train more dancers
• amplify the art & voices of Aurora youth
• provide competition/performance opportunities to students
• further race/class equity in the field of dance

5th Element Center for Dance (5E) is a nonprofit dance program that provides dance, academic, and social emotional resources to youth in Aurora, CO with no cost barrier. 5E is named after the fifth element of hip hop, Knowledge, and centers hip hop styles and pedagogy as a culturally responsive approach to education.

Our mission is to foster personal & artistic development through the hip hop arts, empowering youth to grow into compassionate, knowledgeable, and expressive artists who are deeply connected to themselves & their communities, because we envision a society in which the waves of culture and the arts have uplifted the expression of the most historically silenced people.

Founded in January of 2020, we have grown from a small local initiative into a thriving dance center that has served over 100 youth. Our journey has been marked by numerous milestones, including our move into a cooperative arts space in Aurora, which serves as a creative home for our programming and a hub for community engagement.

Key Programs and Services

5E's Company Program is an immersive, conservatory-style, no cost-barrier program that brings together all of our core offerings into one cohesive experience for students in 3rd through 10th grade.

Students engage in:

• weekly dance classes (spanning ballet, hip hop styles including Breaking, Popping, Locking, and Krump, and more)
• company rehearsals
• Hip Hop History & Culture classes
• Social Emotional and Relational Wellness classes
• freestyle sessions and cyphers
• mentorship meetings
• tutoring and academic support

Every student is placed in a crew, a small group mentored personally, relationally, and artistically by a dedicated dance mentor. Students have opportunities to perform and compete at events throughout the year, including our annual community showcase and Frost Flow Winter Jam.

Geographical Area Served

We proudly serve the Denver and Aurora communities, welcoming youth from all backgrounds to participate in our programs and benefit from our resources.

Thank you for supporting the culture and joining the community!

Impact Statistics

Health and Wellness

• 100% of families reported significant improvements in students' ability to take care of their health and wellness and express their thoughts and feelings due to our weekly dance classes.

Self-Esteem and Social Connections

• Integrating relational wellness and engagement skills into our curriculum has resulted in notable improvements in students' self-esteem, confidence, and social connections, with average ratings ranging from 4.3 to 4.5 (where 4 indicates agreement and 5 indicates strong agreement among families regarding improvements).

Trauma-Informed Approach

• Our trauma-informed approach has fostered positive associations with physical activity and movement, with average ratings for self-esteem and community engagement ranging from 4.3 to 4.5.

Cultural Perspectives and Community Connection

• 85% of families expressed that their children's cultural perspectives are valued and respected.

• 83.33% believe our programs strengthen their children's connection to the community.

• 90.48% of families agree that our coaches provide a safe and empowering environment for their children.

Success Stories From Our Families

• “Coach Daniel, we thank you for being a positive mentor in our grandson's life. He has a passion for dance. You and the other coaches here at 5th Element bring out the best in him, and we appreciate y'all for that.”

• “Coach Janei has been absolutely life-changing for my child. Not only is she kind, but she is also very motivational.”

• “Coach Janei, we appreciate everything that you do for our family. The time, the patience, the way you care, the effort, the ability to let the kids express themselves, just EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU! If there is any way that we can pay it forward with anything, please let us know.”

• “My child has become more confident in math. She pushes through even when tasks are difficult. She learned the value of sticking to her commitments. I am grateful for all of the interactions she had with the caring adults at 5E.”

• “Ms. V is so patient and has done an excellent job with my 12-year-old! I appreciate that my child had a ballet teacher who identifies as BIPoC. Representation matters in the arts, and I am glad that Ms. V is on the 5th Element team.”

• “Coach Janei is fantastic, and I am grateful that I found her programs!”

• “Coach Janei has been absolutely life-changing for my child. Not only is she kind, but she is also very motivational.”

• “We love Ms. V! Only wish we found the studio sooner. My child looks forward to taking more classes in the fall.”

• “Ms. Amber is an amazing teacher. She is positive and encourages my child to try her hardest.”

• “Ms. Amber has made a huge difference in the way my daughter looks at math. I want to thank you for connecting with her and helping her.”