Positive Energy Arts is a not-for-profit organization, created by Shipley Energy in 2012, that is focused on the larger mission of improving local communities through the Arts.
In its many forms, Art enriches the physical, economic, social, and cultural elements of a community. It is essential to the human experience. Almost as soon as motor skills are developed in a child, they begin communicating through artistic expression. So our mission to provide Dance Arts education to youth who would otherwise not have access, is also our promise to engage, enrich, and inspire communities to keep the Arts alive!
Positive Energy Arts has offered a wide range of programming in Harrisburg and York Counties since it’s inception. Currently we are focused on serving within York City. But why?
York City School District is among the worst-ranked/performing schools in the state of Pennsylvania
The eradication of music and arts programming is ever increasing in poorly performing school districts
90% of York City youth live below the poverty line which has a direct impact on their access to the Arts
Who We Serve
Positive Energy Arts has offered a wide range of programming in Harrisburg and York Counties since it’s inception. Currently we are focused on serving within York City. But why?
York City School District is among the worst-ranked/performing schools in the state of Pennsylvania
The eradication of music and arts programming is ever increasing in poorly performing school districts
90% of York City youth live below the poverty line which has a direct impact on their access to the Arts
“If you can be on stage and be confident, there is just about anything you can do.”
Why dance?
Dance combines the transformative power of music and movement to create a visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning experience! It’s one of the only forms of Art that engages the total child. Positive Energy goes a step farther by utilizing hip-hop dance to help meet the students where they are and infuses each dance class with success principles that promote self-confidence, social skills, physical and holistic body exercise, and prevention.
While embedded in the Harrisburg School district, we affected over 15,000 youth as a community outreach and performing arts education program. We utilize professional arts presentations, workshops, and public performances to engage the community and decided to bring our work to York in 2016. Since then we have partnered with the York City School District and York County Libraries to bring Dance Arts to students year-round! Learn more here.
Working efficiently with other local organizations, like the Salvation Army York, Children’s Home of York, Communities of Hope Center, and St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church Youth Center, Positive Energy has been able to deliver over 8 years of programming in schools that is positively changing lives! Through participatory classes in dance, inspirational mentoring, and structured guidance we’ve put over 18,000 youth on stages to showcase what they’ve learned to their friends, parents, and communities.
Led by a dedicated board of Governors, Positive Energy Arts is committed to providing maximum inspiration in the lives of students who would otherwise not have access due to funding, transportation, or language barriers. Every student should be apart of a learning process that encourages creative expression, self-confidence, and pathways to success.
Dance with us!
Learn more about Positive Energy Arts and their impact on the community!
