ne year ago, Everybody Dance Now! (EDN!) was represented by founder Jackie Rotman.

She spoke to several million live viewers of America’s Best Dance Crew on national television, inviting young leaders to join their movement—a movement to inspire young people to use dance as a platform for social change.

Today, the EDN! movement continues to grow. They have received hundreds of emails from people in 11 countries across four continents, inspired by EDN!’s mission.

Teenagers have written to EDN! asking for advice as they start a campaign to raise money for sick children to have arts opportunities, a mother encouraged them to continue pursuing their work by sharing how dance helped her daughter overcome and survive an intense battle with anorexia.

Dozens of young people have expressed their desire to create Everybody Dance Now! chapters in their own communities.

EDN! has trained chapter leaders in 11 cities throughout the United States and Canada, and have at least 20 young people waiting for the next application process.

"Five years ago, I was just like many of our new chapter leaders," says founder Jackie Rotman. "I remember walking into Harding School, excited but incredibly nervous about teaching my first EDN! class. I had no idea that my own life would be transformed by EDN! just as much as the lives of the students we teach."

Pablo Gatica, then 10 years old, was one of the students Jackie taught in that first class. He was getting ready to perform in the talent show with his sister, Alondra.

He walked up to Jackie and asked, "Tell me when you’re teaching because I’m so there."

Pablo’s voice has now become familiar to her (but a little deeper).

At 15, Pablo is a member of EDN!’s performance dance troupe, where he gets to interact with his friends and EDN! family, express himself through frequent performances, and hone his dance skills in a supportive and creative environment.

Thanks to EDN!’s partners, Arts Mentorship Program and Santa Barbara Dance Arts, Pablo is now in a pre-professional dance company and recently had the chance to dance in Las Vegas with wold-renowned choreographers including Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, and Tyce Diorio.

Pablo is thriving as a young individual—as one of many young people whose lives has been positively transformed through their experiences with EDN!.

More than 2,000 youth have participated in their programs since 2006.

In April, not only did EDN! celebrate one year since being featured on America’s Best Dance Crew and announcing their plans to create leadership opportunities for youth throughout the country, on April 23, 200 community members gathered to celebrate Everybody Dance Now!’s five years of service.

It has been five years since EDN!’s founding members taught that first class at Harding Elementary School.

The heartbeat of Everybody Dance Now! continues to beat - with more energy, love, momentum, and support than ever.

Now, it’s time to create an even more able body for this movement to continue to develop an effective institution to support the organization’s work. With love, gratitude, and joyful reflection, EDN! looks to its next chapter—another 5 years of success.