In 2025, The Pop-up Project deepened its commitment to ensuring that dance is accessible to individuals and communities who have traditionally lacked access to high-quality arts education. This year marked a period of intentional growth in outreach, education, and community engagement as we continued to build upon the tremendous success of our Teaching Artists program and the meaningful impact we have cultivated in Hamilton County’s underserved schools and neighborhood community centers. Our Teaching Artists, who reflect the diversity and lived experiences of the communities they serve, brought weekly dance classes to more than 600 children and 200 adults across the county. In 2025, approximately 40–45% of the youth we served lived in underserved, low-income communities, as identified through Free and Reduced Lunch data and LMI-designated partnerships. All of these students received free classes—an intentional investment that removes barriers, expands access, and upholds our belief that every child deserves the chance to dance. In addition to our outreach efforts, Studio34, our centrally located community hub, offers affordable classes for all bodies and all ages, creating a welcoming space where new and returning dancers can learn, connect, and grow. It also continues to serve as a safe, creative home for artists by providing subsidized rehearsal space and accessible opportunities to train, collaborate, and build community.

​

A central pillar of our impact continues to be our commitment to supporting local artists as essential contributors to our city’s cultural and economic health. In a region where artistic labor is too often undervalued, The Pop-up Project has affirmed its belief that artists deserve dignity, fair wages, and opportunities to thrive. In Fiscal Year 2025, we provided more than $208,000 in wages to Teaching Artists and collaborating creatives. This multidisciplinary model is a hallmark of our work, leading to programming that draws on a wide range of artistic voices and perspectives. Our artist community is intentionally diverse: in 2025, our Teaching Artist cohort was composed of 50% Caucasian, 25% African American, 15% Latinx, and 10% Asian artists. These demographics are an organic reflection of dance as a deeply integrated art form and of our commitment to hiring the most qualified artists whose experience enriches the communities we serve. Many of our artists speak different native languages, come from varied religious traditions, identify as members of the LGBTQAI+ community, and bring with them an exceptional range of expertise. Their presence strengthens our programs and ensures that students see themselves reflected in the adults guiding them.

​

Our educational partnerships across Hamilton County continue to be one of our most powerful areas of growth. In 2024, our programs served more than 500 children weekly; by 2025, that impact had expanded to over 600 children every week. Through collaborations with public schools and community centers, we provided consistent, high-caliber training in ballet, hip hop, modern, folk, jazz and creative dance while also offering students opportunities to participate in 8–10 performances annually. These experiences were complemented by field trips to milestone cultural events, summer classes, and an intensive designed to deepen technical training. Our goal remains unwavering: to ensure that children from all walks of life—including those with limited financial means—receive the same level of artistic rigor, support, and inspiration that more resourced communities often have.

​

As we look ahead to 2026, The Pop-up Project remains energized by the progress we have made and grounded in the belief that dance brings communities together in ways that are deeply human and profoundly transformative. Our work is made possible through the collective effort of families, partners, teachers, and artists who believe in the power of movement to spark joy, build belonging, and expand opportunity. Together, we are building a Chattanooga where creativity is accessible, artists are valued, and every person has a place to dance.