In 2002, DanceMotion Artistic Directors Kevin and Meri Bender were inspired to look for a new way to support our community through dance and that is how DancIn’spiration came to be.

Each year DanceMotion contacts elite dance companies throughout Arizona to stage this benefit show. Each participating dance company brings three numbers of varying genres: jazz, lyrical, tap, character, contemporary, and more. Besides DanceMotion, two other dance companies have been participating in DancIn’spiration since its inception, and all others have participated for at least two years. The waiting list of dance companies that want to get involved is long!

It’s an exciting one-day event with the performers arriving early in the day to rehearse and stage the show and learn the 200 participant-wide closing number. The dancers have dinner in the theater and then get dressed and ready to hit the stage.

DancIn’spiration has raised $40,000 for local children’s charities to date. Previous beneficiaries include the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Caitlin Robb Foundation which provided funds for children’s cancer care and research, and Arizona Helping Hands a local charity that sponsors a "Christmas for the Homeless" and "Feed the Children" events.