Vision, Mission, Organization

Ethnic Dance Connection (EDC2) will become the premier network of providers in the Greater Midwest and the leading resource for developmental learning based on the richness of America's ethinc heritage.

Using the medium of ethnic dance to deliver its programs, EDC2 will provide schools and communities with powerful, memorable and enriching experiences that reach far beyond the scope of traditional dance education.

These experiences will, in turn, contribute to the creativity, cultural awareness, social and physical development and personal and professional growth of all community members, including students, parents, extended families, friends, faculty and staff.

Vision
	Ethnic Dance Connection (EDC2) will become the premier network of providers in the Greater Midwest and the leading resource for developmental learning based on the richness of America's ethinc heritage. Using the medium of ethnic dance to deliver its programs, EDC2 will provide schools and communities with powerful, memorable and enriching experiences that reach far beyond the scope of traditional dance education. These experiences will, in turn, contribute to the creativity, cultural awareness, social and physical development and personal and professional growth of all community members, including students, parents, extended families, friends, faculty and staff.
Mission
	Ethnic Dance Connection (EDC2) provides the inspiration and motivation for schools and communities to value and preserve the richness of America’s many ethnic groups through the study, practice, appreciation and performance of ethnic dance, music and song. EDC2 accomplishes this by providing schools and communities with participatory cultural programs that complement lessons learned in the classroom (including social studies, history, geography, physical education, music, art, etc.) and that incorporate many of the elements of training that students will encounter as they enter higher education and the workforce (diversity, teamwork, collaboration, leadership, etc.).
Organization
Click for An Enlarged Photo Click for An Enlarged Photo	Ethnic Dance Connection (EDC2) Ethnic Dance Connection was established in in order to provide schools and communities with programs that feature the ethnic dance, music and songs of America’s many ethnic groups, with the purpose of contributing to the creativity, cultural awareness, social and physical development and personal and professional growth of all school and community members, including students, parents, extended families, friends, faculty and staff. EDC2 is in the process of filing for status as a Not-for-Profit LLC Corporation in the State of Illinois and as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with the IRS Ethnic Dance Connection (EDC2) is affiliated with Ethnic Dance Chicago (EDC - www.ethnicdance.net) - a multi-ethnic, multi-generational community of people who enjoy the dances and music of many countries from around the world. As the motto indicates, EDC participants regard "Dancing As A Second Language". Ethnic Folk Dancing is a great social mixer and provides an excellent aerobic workout of which your personal trainer would approve. Ethnic Dance Chicago (EDC) was established as the "Mid-North Folk Dance Club" in 1987 by Paul Collins and Bill Sasso in order to promote the enjoyment, sharing, understanding and preservation of the dance and music heritage of America's many ethnic groups as well as the heritage of traditional America's own dance and music. EDC conducts weekly ethnic folk dance lessons between 8:00pm and 10:00pm on Chicago's Northwest Side. For a schedule of EDC activities, visit: www.ethnicdance.net/schedule. On this website, you will find more detailed information about ethnic dance and music programs for schools and communities, a regional event calendar, photo and video galleries for your viewing pleasure, a music gallery (with some lyrics) for your listening and singing pleasure, a gallery of music rhythms, a gallery of media articles about ethnic folk dance and music, and lots more.