Due to high overhead in the Madison Park area, Ewajo will move its operations into two separate locations: the TT Minor Elementary School, 1700 E. Union St., and with the Broadway Bound program in the University Heights Center, 5031 University Way N.E. Ewajo will sublease the spaces and do collaborative work with instructors there.
Classes will begin at the new locations on Tuesday, Jan 8.
"We hate to leave this community because it has really embraced us," said Edna Daigre, founder of Ewajo.
Generations of families have come to Ewajo to experience dance. Daigre said she hopes to keep that connection despite the move.
Gerry Tsutakawa has been a long-time participant in Ewajo's dance and conditioning classes, and said he will continue to take classes despite the relocation to new digs.
"I am saddened that the market prices are driving out this wonderful and unique resource from the Central Area," Tsutakawa said.
Increased expenses prevented Ewajo from continuing to offer affordable prices for classes, especially to lower-income families. The relocation will allow Ewajo to offer a greater variety of classes.
"Ewajo is about giving to the people," Daigre said.
Ewajo is affiliated with outreach programs and collaborates with local organizations such as the Rotary Boys and Girls Club in the Central District and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Ewajo forms partnerships with dance productions to help youth who wouldn't otherwise be able to participate in performing arts.
Daigre also said it will be beneficial to have Ewajo incorporated into the school curriculum at TT Minor Elementary, because it will allow for in-classroom arts education for students during and after school.
Ewajo began as a small dance studio in 1974 in the Wallingford District, during a time when physical education wasn't offered in schools. In 1975 it became a non-profit, holding workshops in the developing arts and dance.
"It's like we are moving back to our old neighborhood," said Daigre, who is a former associate professor of dance at the University of Washington.
A wide range of students take classes at Ewajo. Some are as young as 3 years old. The oldest is 84. Ewajo offers classes in hip hop, tap, jazz, ballet, swing and salsa. There are also one-on-one private sessions available in Pilates.
"Ewajo brings a great diversity of people together that wouldn't normally mesh together," said Daigre.
Daigre noted that it's a beautiful process when families from different backgrounds can come together and share their culture's food and dance with one another through creative expression.
Iso-rhythmic dance conditioning is the most popular class. It is designed specifically for people who do not know anything about dance. It integrates dance and fitness into a program filled with rhythms of Africa, Caribbean and hip-hop jazz.
"The combination of movement, strength, flexibility, balance, dance and music is an infectious, fun mix," Tsutakawa said.
"People get a total body and mind workout at Ewajo," Daigre said. "They feel good all over through the music and dance. That is why we've existed for so many years."
Daigre admitted the studio she opened nearly two decades ago has a sentimental value for her.
"I put that dance floor down," Daigre explained as she pointed to the polished wooden floor.
"We are going to lose some and gain some in the move," she added.
She said she hopes to reach out to new students by having two locations.
"Our mission has been to bring creative expression of dance to the community, and we want to keep that mission going," she said.
Jennifer Harvey is a student of journalism in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.
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