GB117: In Service of Community, Heather White Godfrey, Exec. Dir. Dance Project of Washington Heights

Moving along with our focus for January 2021, “In Service of Community”. Next, we bring you Heather White Godfrey, Executive Director of Dance Project of Washington Heights. Listen for an epic story of service.

Heather’s bio…

Heather White Godfrey grew up in small towns in New England, and began dancing at a young age. She moved to NYC to attend Barnard College where she earned a B.A. in Dance, and from there she pursued a career in dance and musical theater for nearly 10 year. Highlights of her performing career included the national tour of The Will Rogers Follies and regional productions of West Side Story, White Christmas, Damn Yankees, and Fiorello!

After becoming a parent in 2009 and becoming better acquainted with her neighborhood of Washington Heights, Heather began to see the inequity and division caused by ongoing gentrification. After struggling with what to do in response, she teamed up with friend and former Paul Taylor dancer Susan Dodge to found Dance Project of Washington Heights – a pay-what-you-can, non-profit dance program with the mission to remove barriers to dance education and build community through dance.

DPWH serves anywhere from 130-500 students, continually finding ways to be inclusive of children who typically are less able to access high-quality dance education, including black and brown children, low-income families, students with learning differences, and immigrants. Heather has called Washington Heights home for 16 years and loves the neighborhood and the neighbors deeply. She lives there with her two children, Myles (11) and
Eleanor (5).

Find, follow and support Heather and Dance Project of Washington Heights:

Instagram: @DanceProjectWH

Facebook: @DanceProjectWH

Website: DanceProjectWH.org

Donate to Dance Project of Washington Heights here.

Thank you Heather for all that you and DPWH does for our youth. We are grateful for you and your works in the community and beyond.

Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters. Enjoy the show and will see you next week!

Love, service & gratitude.

~ Stacey Mack, Founder & Host Grateful Badass Podcast

Instagram: @staceymackreads @smcameronesq

Twitter: @smcameron

Website: smcameronesq.com