Erwin and Isabelle Ziegelman Foundation (dba Accent Dance NYC)

We inspire youth through dance education, enlighten through multicultural performances, and empower through lasting community partnerships. Accent Dance NYC is a 501(c)3 charity committed to bringing dance education programs and professional performance initiatives to historically underserved communities in New York City, Westchester, and neighboring areas. Through a unique collaboration, a team of multidisciplinary artists have built a dance-based curriculum that champions diversity, connects communities, and transforms young lives. We currently provide in-school professional lecture demonstrations and run a variety of dance education programs, including comprehensive after-school, summer, and weekend programs at the New Rochelle YMCA, and in-school programs in Pelham, New Rochelle and Mt. Vernon. Accent Dance NYC's top-tier performers and teachers are building bridges through the universal mediums of movement and music, while bolstering children's cognitive skills, self esteem, and social-emotional development. Accent Dance NYC has reached over 11,000 school-age children in the last five years, and has been featured on ABC News, PIX 11, Fox 5 News, BronxNet TV, Medium Magazine, Dance Informa Magazine, Dance Magazine, Broadway World, Global Thrive, and other news media outlets. Accent Dance NYC's professional company has performed as part of the NYC Department of Transportation's Summer Streets Festival in midtown Manhattan, the Poe Visitor Center in the Bronx, the Bronx Music Heritage Center, the Picture House in Pelham, New York, Alvin Ailey Studios, Ballet Arts Center for Dance and beyond. In 2019, Accent Dance NYC was awarded a grant from Arts Westchester to continue its programming at the Amani Public Charter School in Mount Vernon, New York. In 2023, we were awarded a grant through ArtsWestchester to bring a community performance to the Mount Vernon community.