Tapas Das in Blogs

The Misty Copeland Foundation Expands Its Signature Program and Adds Two More

The Misty Copeland Foundation (MCF) announced an expansion of its signature program, BE BOLD, and the launch of two new programs, BE BOLDNext Steps and BE BOLDER this September. Read on for more information about MCF’s growth.

MCF was founded by Misty Copeland in 2021 to bring ballet to under-resourced communities and foster supportive, inclusive dance environments. Its signature after-school ballet program, BE BOLD, which operates in the Bronx and Harlem, is expanding from five to 22 sites this fall. Designed for students ages 5 through 12, BE BOLD approaches ballet instruction through a holistic framework and comes at no cost to families. A new music framework will also be added to the program.

Along with the expansion of BE BOLD, MCF has launched BE BOLDNext Steps. In partnership with The Ailey School, 92NY, and Dance Theatre of Harlem, this bridge program supports 12 BE BOLD graduates ages 8 through 10 in pursuit of more formal dance training.

BE BOLDER, aimed at adults 50 and older, also launched this fall. The ballet-based wellness program uses storytelling and live music to encourage expression and promote well-being.

“I’m amazed by what we have been able to accomplish during the past three years through BE BOLD, and I’m excited by how BE BOLDNextSteps and BE BOLDER will serve even more new dancers, young and old. I’m so grateful to our talented, dedicated dance and music teaching artists and, of course, all of our partners and supporters,” said Misty Copeland in a recent press release.

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Tapas Das: Tapas Das, a young entrepreneur of our times started TWIST N TURNS in 2005. A person who is kind, generous, creative and down to earth wanted to start his own one of a kind dance academy. According to him, Dance is a language of movements that involves space, time and the human body. He was born and grew up in Kolkata, the cultural hub of India. Being appreciated in the field of dance all his life, he is extremely talented. He has been dancing since the age of four. Once he finished his high school, he learned jazz/modern and contemporary dance. His horizons were broadened even more when he started dancing Bollywood with Beat Busters for 4 years, which then was the most upcoming dance crew in Kolkata. After that exposure, he studied how to be a dance teacher, which later started helping him impart his knowledge about dance. Thus, in 2005, with the help of family and friends, he started TWIST N TURNS. Starting with a mere number of 40 students, today TWIST N TURNS currently has over 500 students. Over the time Tapas has taught and performed all over the country. He has performed in cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Jhansi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur etc. He has been an active participant in the Salsa India Congress in the cities of Bangalore and Bombay, and he has also visited various International Salsa Congresses in Europe, namely in Berlin ,Singapore, Hong Kong,Dubai. He is been also trained recently at Broadway Dance Center (New York), Alvin Alley (New York) and Steps on Broadway (New York). He is not only a dancer or teacher. He is a successful choreographer and has coordinated various shows without difficulty in our country. His leadership skills are exceptional, thus he is where he stands today. His aim in life would be to become a dance educator. He wants to share his tremendous knowledge in the right way to the right people. He is also, simultaneously running other brands like Zumba Kolkata, Bollywood Studio ArtistWala.com and India International Dance Institute.