Our Crowdfunding Groups
Our crowdfunding campaign is over, but you can still support EMI by clicking here.
Expressive Movement Initiative (EMI) is a UCLA undergraduate organization dedicated to putting on free dance classes for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities to express themselves through movement. Our mission is to empower these individuals through weekly dance classes that foster creativity, connection, and joy!
Our Dance Classes
We offer online classes every Wednesday and Friday and an in-person class on Mondays. During each class, dancers explore a new choreography and spend one-on-one time with their paired EMI volunteer—building meaningful relationships that last throughout the entire session. Each quarter concludes with a recital, where dancers have the opportunity to showcase their hard work and growth. Watching the dancers express themselves, build confidence, and form amazing bonds with their volunteer buddies is truly heartwarming and inspiring.
For our in person program, we move together for the duration of the class each week. Our online program, however, alternates between group and buddy classes. Our students are paired one-on-one with an undergraduate volunteer/”buddy”. In group classes, all of our dancers and volunteers are in one zoom room, learning routines and exercises from our artistic directors. Then in the following buddy class, our students reinforce those skills with their buddy and engage in fun games and activities. We are extremely proud of the meaningful, trusting friendships that our club fosters between our students and buddies.
Donate Today!
The most important thing to our club is maintaining the accessibility of these dance classes. We need your help to keep this program free and available to all to ensure that we can grow and maintain our program! Your donation ensures that these classes and everything that comes with them remain free of charge for dancers and their families. It will help us:
These classes are more than just an opportunity to dance—they are a safe space where participants can express themselves, build friendships, and experience joy. Every week, our dancers show up excited to move, learn, and connect, and it’s incredible to witness the positive impact this program has on their lives.
By donating, you’re not just supporting dance classes—you’re creating a community of inclusion and empowerment. Please consider making a donation today to help us keep this program going. Together, we can ensure that every dancer has a space to shine!
CLICK HERE TO READ THE UCLA FOUNDATION'S DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS FOR DONORS
Should this fund reach the campus minimum required for the establishment of an endowment or quasi-endowment, The UCLA Foundation reserves the right to convert this fund to an endowment or quasi-endowment. Please click here to learn more about how the UCLA Foundation invests and manages its endowments.
Your $10 donation can...provide materials for dancers to use during class.
Your $25 donation can... sponsor a full 10-week in person or online class or send a personalized recital package with thoughtful goodies to a dancer.
Your $50 dollar donation can do it all... help us host an end-of-year banquet, where dancers, families, and volunteers can connect, celebrate, and often meet in person for the first time!
Your $100 dollar donation can do it all... provide materials for dancers to use during class, send a personalized recital package with thoughtful goodies to a dancer, help us host an end-of-year banquet, where dancers, families, and volunteers can connect, celebrate, and often meet in person for the first time, and cover costs for our in-person classes, such as parking and transportation.