Our Mission

MindLeaps uses dance to develop the cognitive skills and social-emotional learning of at-risk youth to ensure that they can succeed in school, enter the workplace and leap forward in life.

Our Vision

An African continent where youth have the mental readiness and emotional resilience to take positive charge of their lives.

Who We Are

MindLeaps is a not-for-profit organization staffed by dance instructors, educators, social workers, counselors and administrators, all dedicated to building a bridge to education and positive livelihoods through dance.

What We Do

We engage kids in fun dance classes that are part of a carefully crafted curriculum to develop the key cognitive and social-emotional skills vital to success in school and work.

Why We Do It

We believe that changing mindsets and opening the door to education and employment can change the future for youths who might otherwise be abandoned to hopelessness or radicalization.

How We Know It Works

We monitor and evaluate progress with Tracker, our software program specifically designed to collect data and measure development of critical learning skills.

About Us

Misty Copeland and MindLeaps

Ballet superstar Misty Copeland will return to Rwanda from August 16 – 22 to help vulnerable girls and refugee children. Misty will share her story to inspire these children while also becoming a voice for them back in the USA through her ongoing work with MindLeaps’ International Artists Fund.

Read the Press Release on Misty Copeland’s Trip to MindLeaps Rwanda

International Artists' Fund (IAF)

Through MindLeaps International Artists’ Fund (IAF), world renowned performers bring awareness to the needs of vulnerable children and refugee youth in Africa. These artists travel to the field to learn about the situation on the ground and become global advocates for change.