ABOUT
OUR MISSION
Sole City Dance provides a strong technical foundation in dance in a non-competitive, nonjudgmental environment, for the encouragement of artistic expression.
Arts Rochester, Inc., DBA Sole City Dance, is a federally designated 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization.
The non-profit status allows the organization to reinvest money into higher quality programming including more highly qualified educational staff and to produce performances with higher production values (venue, lights, scenery, props.) We are also able raise funds for scholarships that serve children who might otherwise be unable to afford to participate in our programs.
OUR HISTORY
Sole City Dance began as Arts Rochester in April 1982. The organization was founded by local arts supporters who joined together to raise funds to restore the Rochester Opera House by producing arts events and festivals in the city. Over the years, Arts Rochester evolved into a community theatre group, performing plays and musicals in local venues.
Meanwhile, in September 1991, Christine Hounsell formed Rochester Movement Arts, a dance studio which later expanded into Rochester Creative Arts Center and included fine arts, music and theater education programs. In 2003, Rochester Creative Arts Center merged with the Arts Rochester, making it an all-around performing and fine arts education center. The organization moved into a new home in the Gonic Mill in the fall of 2004.
In May of 2006 and April 2007, two devastating floods did significant damage to the facility in Gonic. Arts Rochester only survived due to the generosity of loyal supporters. The organization downsized and moved to the Rochester Community Center in September of 2007. In 2009, Arts Rochester adopted the new name of Sole City Dance to better describe its current dance-focused educational programming.
In the Spring of 2014, Sole City Dance moved from Rochester to it’s current location in Somersworth. Here we were able to add aerial dance to our programming and join forces with the Somersworth Youth Connection to provide free dance lessons and clothing to elementary and middle school students.
On July 1, 2018 Christine Hounsell founder of Rochester Movement Arts and Executive Director of Sole City Dance retired and she was replaced by faculty member Alexandra Poulis.
OUR FACILITIES
Sole City is comprised of four state-of-the-art Dance Studios:
Full-length mirrors
Sprung/Floating floors
Sound system with bluetooth and AUX cord hookup
Heat and AC
3 studios with marley floors, 1 studio with wood floor
Aerial rigging
Our Facility also includes:
Spacious lobby with chairs, tables, and retail shop
Women and Men dressing rooms
Two restrooms
Large parking lot
What are floating floors?
Floating Floors, also known as “sprung floors,” are recognized as the best floors available for dance. With the help of foam backing (pictured) the floor is able to absorb shock and decrease the impact on the joints of dancers.
