ANNUAL REPORT
W W W . C H L O E A N D M A U D F O U N DAT I O N . O R G
Dear Friend: These past few years have been like no other - the Chloé and Maud Foundation has reached new heights in our mission of providing equal opportunity to educational programming that inspires young people around the globe. 2023 was a year of milestones - 10 years of the Chloé and Maud Foundation, 15 years of the DC Tap Festival, and 20 years of the Syncopated Ladies. With every accomplishment, we step through doors that were opened for us by our sheroes. We aim to keep those doors open so that the next generation of young people can achieve their dreams. We cherish our community. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what your circumstances are; everyone who comes through our doors has the chance to dance in at least one of our many programs. Thanks to your generosity, we are able to offer extensive financial support to change the lives of our students on and off the dance floor. Our programming offers not only exceptional dance training, but builds necessary life skills: entrepreneurship, financial literacy, cyber safety, community building, and more. Arts education saves lives, as it did ours, and the greatest gift is to see our scholarship students grow from training in the studio to shining as self-actualized global citizens. It reminds us of our purpose. We are forever driven by our mission to spread joy and tap into empowerment. This 2022-2023 Annual Report is to show you how your donations have helped change and save lives through dance around the world, and we’re honored to share it with you. With your continued support, we can dive deeper into our mission and expand our reach even further. It takes a village, and we are so grateful that you are a part of ours. Thank you so much for supporting the Chloé and Maud Foundation! With love,
OUR MISSION
Sisters Chloé and Maud Arnold are international Tap Stars and filmmakers with a dream of providing uplifting, inspiring, and joyful educational programming for young people around the globe in the fields of Dance and Entrepreneurship. The Chloé and Maud Foundation was founded to ensure that underserved communities have equal opportunity, access, and encouragement in these fields. We believe that art saves lives, and by providing exceptional educational opportunities, healing art spaces and works that celebrate our culture, we build self-esteem, empower our voices, and unify our communities. Our philosophy and actions support our mission to Tap into love, life, joy, and the future, by promoting self-knowledge, self-respect, and self-empowerment as means to create infinite possibilities and overcome adversity.
OUR IMPACT NORTH AMERICA Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Sint Maarten, United States (all 50 states)
SOUTH AMERICA Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uraguay
Our impact stretches far beyond our home city - with students in 68 countries and counting, all 50 states and multiple U.S. Territories and Armed Forces bases, the Chloé and Maud Foundation has changed lives all over the world.
U.K. & EUROPE Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
ASIA Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates
AFRICA Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, Réunion, South Africa, Uganda
OCEANIA Australia, New Zealand
150 Sole Talk members currently activated across the globe (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Latvia, Brazil, New Zealand)
DC Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Performing Arts
Free educational programming for underserved communities all over the world, from the inner city of LA to favelas in Brazil and community centers in Africa.
10 YE In 2020, we built an online community, reaching 40,000 dancers with free lessons, offering connection and community in new ways
Recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives as Arts Preservers and Ambassadors
With the DC Tap Fest, we have given over $250,000 worth of scholarships. Free Tap Into Life After-School programs worldwide: · Carlo Santana (LA) · KIPP Empower (LA) · Casa Amarella (Brazil) · Cedepe Santa Catarina (Brazil) · Madureira Site (Brazil)
EARS Liberty Hill Foundation 2023 Creative Vision Award
2023 marked 15 years of the DC Tap Fest, the world’s largest tap dance festival
In 2023, we co-produced the Inaugural Hollywood Tap Festival with Debbie Allen in Los Angeles
KAIDEN CURRIE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2027 FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT DC AND HOLLYWOOD TAP FESTS INTERN, 2023 DANCER, FEATURE LENGTH INDIE FILM RELEASING 2024
The Chloé and Maud Foundation has forever changed my life. I was so fortunate to receive a full scholarship to the DC Tap Fest which allowed me to attend my first ever Tap Festival in 2022. Being in a room surrounded by extreme diversity where everyone shares a love for dance is truly amazing - Chloé and Maud bring together the most wonderful, caring, and loving people I have ever met. Being in a tap class with people of all colors, ages, and backgrounds truly opens your eyes and it is something I am extremely grateful to experience. Chloé and Maud have given me countless opportunities to work professionally and learn about being a professional tap dancer. They also played a major role in my college application process and encouraged me to apply to their Alma Mater, Columbia University, and my acceptance completely changed the trajectory of my life. The ongoing support and guidance that I receive from Chloé and Maud is such a gift, and they have helped me attain my wildest dreams and envision beyond. I am so thankful for their devotion to making tap dance accessible, educational, and fun for everyone.
LILLIANA SILVA SOLE TALK COMPANY MEMBER PERFORMED AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL MAKER EMPIRE ELEMENTS DANCE SPACE
The Chloé and Maud Foundation has helped me blossom into the dancer and person I am today. They teach that you are never too young or old to make your goals and dreams become a reality. The Foundation has inspired me to become a leader of the next generation. I recently became a Tap Dance teacher myself and I am thankful that the Foundation provided me with tools to be a purposeful, strong and confident leader and teacher. Through the Foundation I’ve also gained lifetime friendships with people from LA, Florida, New York, Brazil, Washington D.C. and many more. The Foundation is amazing and I have referred many friends to take advantage of what the Foundation offers.
JADEN FOREMAN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT DC AND HOLLYWOOD TAP FESTS INTERN, 2022/2023 FILM STUDENT AT RIDER UNIVERSITY NEW JERSEY TAP ENSEMBLE
The first time I heard of Chloé and Maud Arnold was through DC Tap Fest’s advertising. It was nothing like I had ever seen before. My first thought was “There is so much positivity here…it’s weirding me out.” Maybe that’s just how I was raised as a dancer. My past teachers, with so much love and the highest levels of respect for them, were hard on my brother Ellis and I... with that came extremely, sometimes painfully honest feedback. So when I saw the inclusion, optimism, and diversity of skill levels at this event hosted by Chloe and Maud, I was skeptical, to say the least. We went to DC Tap Fest in 2019. Looking back at old Instagram posts, it’s crazy how much we’ve changed since then... I felt out of place, in a good way. I was stepping into a new environment that I soon was going to love and adapt into my everyday life. As the years went on, Chloé and Maud watched us grow. Not just as dancers, but as people. They provided us with more and more opportunities. As I’ve gotten to really know them, I started to view dance differently... dance became a way to make people feel joy, and to include others in the conversation... I started implementing what I learned into other aspects of my life and saw incredible results because of it. Things really started to grow for me in high school, when Ellis and I were interns for DC Tap Fest 15 in 2023. Not only did we get the chance to work closely with Chloé and Maud, but we also got the opportunity to help others... Simple things like working at the merchandise table, registering people for classes, and even directing people on which room was which helped me learn a number of things that I can take with me to other jobs and careers. It wasn’t just more ink for my resume, it was the perfect opportunity to grow as a person. The summer of 2023... Chloé and Maud gave us an incredible gift and got us to Los Angeles for a week to intern at the Hollywood Tap Festival. It was a summer I will truly never forget... I met the most amazing people, got to assist and befriend some of the greatest tap dancers in the world, and performed with my brother in front of Debbie Allen. I am incredibly blessed to be in the position I am in, and to have close connection with Chloe and Maud Arnold, though every day I question what I did to deserve this... I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t met Chloé and Maud Arnold. The reason I even became a film major was because of them, with the vision of putting tap dance on film like it was so many years ago. They say never meet your heroes, but I think this is a pretty good exception. Ultimately, I want to have the power to inspire like they have inspired me. In 10 years, I strive to be the same way; successful and kind.
20 M ONTHLY
22 R ECAPS
We were invited to join the Black Genius Brain Trust, a community of visionaries and cultural torchbearers. We are honored to serve as advisors and ambassadors to bring greater awareness to the our creative ecosystem and connect our youth to meaningful opportunities.
For many of our teen girls of our Tap Into Life Madureira program, this was their first ever trip to the beach, despite living in Rio their entire lives.
Tap In Rio is so special and we look forward to seeing our Brazilian students every year - their joy lifts us up! We chartered a bus for students coming from favelas so they could safely participate in the festival.
What a gift to be invited onto the Kelly Clarkson Show! We performed Rise Up and spoke with Kelly about Syncopated Ladies, a tap company made up of Chloé and Maud Foundation alumni. We discuss the Ladies’ first National Tour, and the women who have blazed a trail to make our work possible.
JANUARY In its 50th anniversary year, the Kennedy Center selected 50 artists, cultural leaders, change makers, leaders, and community activists to be a part of The Kennedy Center’s Next50. Growing up, Chloé and Maud had the opportunity to perform as part of the outreach initiatives. Now, Chloé and Maud are working to bring their Foundation students to the Kennedy Center.
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY
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This year we kicked off our FIRST NATIONAL TOUR, making history as the first to produce and tour a full scale Live Tap Concert that is the first of its kind in over a century. In each city, the Chloé and Maud Foundation gave out free tickets to our community partners, and offered free dance classes, talkbacks, Q&As, and school shows.
WORCESTER, MA — HUNTINGDON, PA — BLOOMSBURG, PA WASHINGTON, DC — CHARLOT TE, NC — MEMPHIS, TN BIRMINGHAM, AL — OPELIKA, AL — STARKVILLE, MS ATLANTA, GA — LIVERMORE, CA — LA MIRADA, CA MALIBU, CA
ATLANTA, GA
BIRMINGHAM, AL
CHARLOT TE, NC
Birmingham was one of the most memorable crowds of our early 2022 tour dates - the city’s history offered a powerful perspective on our performance, and the sold out crowd’s energy lifted our spirits to new heights while absorbing the show’s message of empowerment, sisterhood, and infinite possibilities!
Thanks to the generosity of Felicia and Ben Horowitz and the Horowitz Family Foundation, we offered community outreach classes in multiple cities on tour - whether in partnership with the theatre or a local dance studio, these classes were free to all attendees and open to all ages and abilities. Offering safe spaces for learning and exploration is a major part of our mission, and we are dedicated to never letting finances be an obstacle. WASHINGTON, DC
MEMPHIS, TN
Before our performance at the Orpheum Theatre, we purchased 300 tickets for local dance studios in underserved communities to offer at no cost a theatre experience that the dancers and their families might not otherwise be able to afford.
BOISE, ID
WASHINGTON, DC
MEMPHIS, TN
To close out the first leg of our 2022 tour, we offered a community talk back after our incredible last show in Boise, ID. Young dancers and entrepreneurs had the opportunity to join us for an intimate conversation, ask for guidance, and pose questions about our beginnings. We offered advice and gave specialized support to attendees. We had the best time on tour - the energy was higher than we could have dreamed of! After many sold out shows and incredible meet and greets where we had the opportunity to meet audience members who were inspired by our show and message, we came home revitalized and recentered in our purpose. You can’t be what you don’t see, and we are honored to offer representation to young people all over the country.
MARCH CHARLOT TE, NC
After an incredible Syncopated Ladies concert in Orange, CA, we offered community classes at Chapman University in partnership with their first tap dance festival. The opportunity to connect with young dancers is always a gift, as we strive to offer mentorship, guidance, and sow seeds of possibility.
APRIL SHONDA RHIMES
TV SCREEN WRITER, PRODUCER, AUTHOR
We were honored to be a part of the opening of the beautiful Rhimes Performing Arts Center for the Debbie Allen Dance Academy! It’s a honor to celebrate one of our sheroes, Shonda Rhimes, and thank her for cultivating spaces where young people can create fearlessly. Thank you for seeing us and investing in the future!
Two of our scholarship students - Zyla and Egypt, both members of our youth tap company Sole Talk performed a duet at the Environmental Charter School’s Unity Fest in LA. These dancers embody our mission of empowerment on and off the dance floor.
After wrapping SPIRITED in 2021, we coordinated donations of our sprung, high quality dance floors to multiple studios in need in Los Angeles. Nine thousand pounds of wood were transported almost three thousand miles across the country, from Massachusetts to California. Young dancers are now taking class on floors used by Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, and the Syncopated Ladies, their legs and bodies protected by the sprung wood.
MAY HISTORY! We are so beyond proud of scholarship students Freddie and Teddie’s work TAP DANCING on Kendrick Lamar‘s powerful, poignant new album! It is our mission to bring opportunities to young people who may not otherwise have access, and expand their vision of what is possible.
JUNE
Maud wrapped her FIRST feature film as choreographer, THEATER CAMP! Written by Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman, we were able to hire multiple scholarship students (including Zyla and Giada, both of whom have been scholarship students since they were six years old) as dancers!
Chloé was honored with the June cover of Dance Magazine: as our visibility increases, so does the visibility of our mission, and the possibilities we can offer to our youth flourish!
We cherish our partnership with Get Empowered, and were honored to be invited to their Arts Empowerment Fest in Queens, bringing art to over 1,000 kids grades Pre-K to 8th.
Some of our NYC Sole Talk dancers performed for Total Equity Now’s Literacy Across Harlem day - a fun and meaningful opportunity for Harlem residents of all ages to engage with literacy, deepen their knowledge of the community’s rich literary history and landscape, and celebrate Harlem’s identity as a world-renowned hub of literature by and about Black and Brown people.
Maud headed to Sint Maarten for ART SAVES LIVES! Our foundations are so in alignment regarding our missions of offering uplifting opportunities to young people who may not receive them otherwise. For many, it was their first tap class!
JULY IRE OMITOWOJU
CAST OF UNFROSTED USC STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Chloé wrapped her second feature film - Jerry Seinfeld’s UNFROSTED! This project was a dream come true, working alongside industry icons and hiring both current and previous scholarship students, including Foundation student and mentee Ire Omitowoju, during the process. We are so thankful for how our opportunities in the television and film industries have grown this year - the dream is real!
AUGUST
TAP INTO SISTERHOOD! We had such an incredible day with the ladies of the Fresh Air Fund learning about empowerment, community, confidence, and dance! It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Kimberly Steward! Together, we had an uplifting day of dance classes and these young people were given empowerment journals to put their dreams and goals in writing. We discussed actualizing those dreams - we are so happy to be in their corner as they strive forward!
While in France, Chloé and Maud offered a free class to the Parisian tap dance community - so much joie de vivre! We love sharing the joy of tap dance internationally.
AUGUST
We always have the best time in Croatia! The Chloé and Maud Foundation has been a sponsor of the Dubrovnik Tap Festival for years, and we offer scholarships to their students to attend our festivals in the U.S. We awarded students scholarships to join us at the DC Tap Fest, and for many, it was their first time coming to America!
Syncopated Ladies Bootcamp came back to New York City, and together it was uplifting and empowering young women with messages of strength and sisterhood.
DC TAP FEST 2022 was pure love! This is our annual celebration of tap dance and community, which finally came back in person after two years of virtual programming, reaching dancers all around the world in 50 states and 43 countries. Featuring an All Star Faculty and Concert, community kids were able to express their love for tap dance and celebrate the art. The DC Tap Fest is a place where dancers can express themselves freely, build community, train hard and learn from the best tap dance educators & dancers in the world. It is an honor to watch children grow and help them reach their dreams and live joyful lives!
SEPTEMBER
JOY MOVES, presented by the Chloé and Maud Foundation, We Lead With Love, K Period Media, Till Movie, and hosted at The Beehive by Sola Impact! Dance can be cost prohibitive, not only due to the cost of training but the necessary equipment like dance clothing and shoes. Thanks to our partners and generous donations from Apple and Bloch, we were able to give away over $40,000 in brand new dance gear to the community - shoes, leotards, activewear, tights in a wide range of skin tones, and more! We also offered free dance classes - tap, hip hop, yoga, and Afro Funk! What a joyful celebration!
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER Christmas came early! SPIRITED premiered - choreographed by Chloé Arnold and featuring Syncopated Ladies, as well as multiple Chloé and Maud Foundation scholarship students, both current and alumni. This film echoes our joyful message to do a little good and make ripples in out community, and thanks to the support of Felicia and Ben Horowitz and the Horowitz Family Foundation, we offered community screenings at movie theatres across the country to come together with the magic of Christmas, community, and dance! We were able to give away over 1,000 tickets to community partners in Los Angeles, New York, and DC. Not only did we watch and sing along to the film, but attendees got free cookies and the chance to ask the cast and creators questions - the director Sean Anders, choreographer Chloé Arnold, and co-choreographer Ava Bernstine-Mitchell. The community showed out to support, and we got to celebrate all of the Foundation students who made their feature film debut dancing in SPIRITED!
DECEMBER
At our final SPIRITED screening, Will Ferrell surprised our foundation students and guests - he generously gave his time to answer questions, take pictures, and even show us a tap step he learned from Chloé on set! It was so special, and a Christmas memory we cherish!
WILL FERRELL
ACTOR, PRODUCER, COMEDIAN
IRE OMITOWOJU FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT DANCER, “SPIRITED” AND “UNFROSTED” BUSINESS STUDENT AT USC SYNCOPATED LADIES MENTEE
At the age of 12, I grappled with insecurities as a competition dancer, uncertain of my place in the dance world. Although I possessed a natural talent for tap dancing, I hesitated to fully commit to the style, plagued by self-doubt as I observed other dancers excelling in tap. It wasn't until I encountered Chloé Arnold at a convention that my perspective on tap dance expanded. Witnessing a thriving, collegeeducated Black woman in the dance community had a profound impact on me, reshaping my approach to life. While many relationships with convention teachers fade away, my connection with Chloé was distinctive. She became a constant presence in my life, offering guidance not only in dance but also in academics. Chloe imparted the importance of building a legacy as a Black woman, emphasizing that her path was not just for her own success but to pave the way for girls like me to follow and continue her journey. Joining her and Maud’s youth tap company, Sole Talk, allowed me to cultivate relationships with the other Syncopated Ladies. Following their advice, I enrolled in the same academic programs she pursued in high school, leading to my acceptance into top colleges, including the University of Southern California, where I am currently a senior studying Business, Technology, and Design. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, the support from Chloé and Maud expanded. They brought me onto various projects, spanning TV and film, including "Spirited," where I had the opportunity to work alongside stars like Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer. Chloé, Maud, and the Syncopated Ladies became my family away from home, offering a safe space beyond campus and cheering me on at my majorette performances. They instilled in me the belief that I could achieve anything in life, and I owe much of the woman I am today to their unwavering support and mentorship.
IRE AND SPIRITED DIRECTOR, SEAN ANDERS, AND CREW
JABU GRAYBEAL FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT DANCER, “SPIRITED” WORLDWIDE TOURING DANCER MUSIC ARTIST
I attended the DC Tap Fest under scholarship from the Chloé and Maud Foundation in 2017. I am eternally grateful and thankful to both Chloé and Maud and the Foundation for that opportunity and experience. Getting to go to the festival not only made me a better dancer and artist, but it made me a better person. You’re there for a week, or just a weekend, and are welcomed into this beautiful community of happiness and talent from all over the world and it is truly beautiful to get to make music together. The festival may last a weekend, but the relationships and connections you make there last a lifetime and I am very thankful for that.
MALIA PALMER SOLE TALK COMPANY MEMBER DC TAP FEST INTERN, 2022 AND 2023 HOLLYWOOD TAP FEST INTERN, 2023 EXTRA ON THE LATE LATE SHOW W JAMES CORDEN
The Chloé and Maud Foundation has changed my life and helped me get to where I am now. I had never been a part of a community with diversity. The Foundation has helped me improve as a dancer and as a person. I love how Chloé and Maud care about character over talent. It is important lesson to learn. Kindness brings people together and can you get further in life. I’m very thankful to have Chloé and Maud in my life, they have given me many professional job opportunities! I hope to continue my professional career with them as my mentors!
20 M ONTHLY
23 20 MRONTHLY ECAPS
To kick of 2023 with joy, the Chloé and Maud Foundation sent 300 smiling faces to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular! We are so grateful to partner with the Rockettes, and thankful that our community shows up with such inspiring enthusiasm.
JANUARY
Maud headed to her first Sundance Festival for the premiere of the first film she choreographed, THEATER CAMP! What an honor to celebrate this accomplishment with so many greats, and to lift up our scholarship students who worked on the project.
Tap In Rio is one of our favorite times of year - we get to spend time with this incredible community, reconnect with our Brazilian students and programs, and share our love for tap dance! We brought our Tap Into Life Madureira girls to the festival, and got to see their improvement, their sisterhood, and love for life first hand, after a year of spending time together virtually. The Chloé and Maud Foundation sponsored new tap shoes for these ladies! Chloé and Maud also brought their friends, renowned choreographer/director Kenny Ortega (Michael Jackson This Is It, High School Musical franchise, Descendants, Hocus Pocus), Paul Becker (Descendants, Twilight, Deadpool 2), Michelle Dorrance (MacArthur Genius, Dorrance Dance, Tap Dancer), who generously shared their expertise and inspired the students.
PHOENIX, AZ
WASHINGTON, DC
THE SECOND BALCONY OF THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE
Believed to be the largest remaining Jim Crow balcony remaining in the South, if not the entire nation.
Syncopated Ladies headlined their own concert in the Grand Opera House in Macon, Georgia, which used to be segregated. Black audiences sat on hard, tiny benches in the nosebleeds, behind lighting fixtures and crew work spaces, leaving many unable to see what was happening on stage at all. At our show, little black girls sat in the front row and danced their hearts out.
FEBRUARY Syncopated Ladies went back on the road for the second year of our NATIONAL TOUR, hitting more cities and expanding our global community! In each city, the Chloé and Maud Foundation gave out free tickets to our community partners, and offered free dance classes, talkbacks, Q&As, and school shows.
Between tour dates, we headed over to Orlando for another Syncopated Ladies Bootcamp - so much vibrancy, joy, and excellence in the studio! We offered scholarships and internships to students in attendance, and shared our mission of empowerment.
Our school show in Miami was particularly memorable - over 1,600 students, all on their feet, engaged, and inspired! The energy in the room was incredible, and we got the opportunity to connect after the show to answer questions and offer advice to the young people in the audience.
CHANDLER, AZ MIAMI, FL MACON, GA FAIRFAX, VA FORT WAYNE, IN DAYTON, OH MARION, IL NASHVILLE, TN ORLANDO, FL PIT TSBURGH, PA
ORLANDO, FL
MARCH 2023 marks TWENTY YEARS of Syncopated Ladies - we are so energized, and only just getting started! As alumni of the Chloé and Maud Foundation, Syncopated Ladies exemplify the importance of the work we do. As we grow, we are laying the groundwork for the next 100 years of Syncopated Ladies. Our tour dates offer us the opportunity to connect with new audiences. We are out in the lobby after each show talking and taking pictures with members of the audience, hearing their stories and offering support and encouragement to both young people and their support systems.
MARION, IL
NASHVILLE, TN
MARION, IL
Kids watch, they observe, they feel, they do - we are so thankful to play a small role in their journeys! Maud has been visiting CEDEP, an incredible community center in Floripa, Brazil, ever since 2015, and got to visit and teach again this year.
APRIL Chloé got to teach a master class at USC, and connect with the next generation of dancers! One of our scholarship students (and now Syncopated Lady!) Ire Omitowoju is a student at USC, and it has been a gift to watch her grow into such a beautiful and talented young lady. We are beyond proud of her and all of her accomplishments thus far.
Our Tap Into Life program thrives in schools all over the world - our visits to Brazil are so special, because we can check in on our students and see how much they have grown and progressed! These students are learning lessons of empowerment and unity, as well as receiving excellent tap dance training.
MAY My first time and best experience EVER!! I was challenged, inspired, learned new skills, made so many new friends, had so much fun while doing it all! 10/10! Can’t wait for the next time I can go back. — KHLOE W.
DC TAP FEST 2023 was a major celebration! This year marked 15 years of our homecoming project, and our mission to give back to the city that gave us so much - in alignment with that goal, we gave away over $32,000 worth of scholarships to over 100 students! It was such an incredible and inspiring weekend, with hundreds of people coming together from all over the world to share our love for tap dance.
JUNE
Our Tap Into Life students in LA performed as part of an After School Program Assembly such a fun day dancing and sharing everything they’ve learned! More than anything, we want to instill in our students the message of FAITH over FEAR - faith in yourself, your abilities, and your future!
Maud headed to Sint Maarten for the tenth anniversary of Art Saves Lives! It was another magical and purpose-driven week surrounded by friends who have become family, teaching the most amazing children, exploring the stunning island of Sint Maarten. We take the statement Art Saves Lives incredibly seriously - it saved ours, and continues to do so for children all over the world. Programs like these inspire us to continue our work to make lives full of art and joy possible.
The International Day of Purpose was created to inspire people to celebrate and activate the power of purpose. In celebration of that, the Chloé and Maud Foundation sponsored a dinner in NYC to unite with positive intentions and re-align with your purpose.
Chloé and Maud were invited to perform at Google’s NYC headquarters as part of their Juneteenth celebration, and invited scholarship students to join the audience.
The 1st Annual Hollywood Tap Fest was AMAZING! We are so grateful to Debbie Allen and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy for welcoming us back home to celebrate TAP DANCE and co-produce this incredible event. So much love was felt, and the community ran deep - so many wonderful students, hard-working interns, kind volunteers, and incredibly generous sponsors! Almost half of our students received financial support, with the total amount of scholarships offered reaching over $33,000.
JULY
Maud co-directed and starred in a short film as part of the Thompson Hotels’ Culture Lives Here Initiative this project is all about embracing our collective creativity and collaborating in ways that truly shape culture. Maud invited many of our Sole Talk and Syncopated Babies students to appear in the film as well, and have a professional set experience. We can't express enough how grateful we are for the opportunity to work together on this project. It's been an incredible journey, inspiring creatives to break boundaries and ignite their passion.
Essence Fest is so special because it provides us an opportunity to elevate our New Orleans tap youth by inviting them attend the festival’s programs with us. The Chloé and Maud Foundation has taken these boys under it's wing since 2017, and despite the challenges they may face, joy will always win.
THEATER CAMP premiered in theatres! This project was Maud’s first time choreographing a feature film, and we are so happy that she got to work with such talented kids and hire some of our Foundation students!
The Fresh Air Fund is one of our favorite parts of the year - we get to come out to their camp site, breathe in the fresh air, and work with some wonderful young ladies. Thank you so much to Kimberly Steward for making this program happen! We love coming back and working with these kids; what the Fresh Air Fund offers the community is so important and you can feel the difference that it makes in the young ladies. We see them year to year grow and come into themselves as self-actualized, empowered young women.
JULY
AUGUST CAMEROON
RWANDA
Chloé visited Africa for the first time on a mission of giving - this journey represented the beauty of dance, sports, and culture! In Cameroon, Chloé taught dance at a basketball camp hosted by VisionC, a non-profit serving the development of Cameroon’s youth and supporting the creation of greater economies and communities. In Rwanda, Chloé was a Guest Speaker at Giants of Africa, a non-profit founded 20 years ago with the objective of educating, enriching, and empowering African youth, using basketball as a tool to encourage African youth to DREAM BIG.
MORE THAN MOVES: A DANCER’S GUIDED JOURNAL W/ CHLOE AND MAUD, SELF-LOVE, WELLNESS & DANCE!
We are ecstatic to share our first guided journal - a twelve week journey into helping readers fortify their minds while dancing! This book offers a framework of what our foundation’s programming has been providing since the beginning, making the message we share even more accessible to young people all over the world. Since publishing More Than Moves, we have donated over 30 copies (and have had over a hundred more sponsored by patrons!) to students in schools and camps across the country.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to appear on Rebel Girls Podcast, based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. We shared the story of Sadiqua Bynum, one of the youngest and most successful African American stunt women working in the film industry.
SEPTEMBER
Chloé and Maud offered a free dance workshop and our Sole Talk youth company performed at the Maldonado Arts Fest, a cultural celebration that blends art, music, and culture in a truly unforgettable way.
The LA Kids Book Festival was so much FUN! We got to share our new book, More Than Moves, with so many awesome families, and our Sole Talk dancers performed.
The Chloé and Maud Foundation was invited to this year’s Small Business Impact Luncheon, hosted by BeyGood, Beyoncé’s philanthropic entity. This event is a space for the brightest minds, biggest hearts and passionate change agents with exciting trajectories forward, and we are so honored to have a seat at the table! Beyoncé has played such a major role in our trajectory and has been incredibly generous in sharing our work on her platform to elevate us to new heights that have helped our Foundation do life-changing work. We are forever grateful!
Our Tap Into Life students in LA came together for another awesome performance - moments like these allow us to connect with our students outside of the classroom, and encourage them to step outside their comfort zones and PERFORM! We are so committed to building a bridge between all of our students and a world of infinite possibilties.
OCTOBER
Sole Talk, our youth tap company, is one of our favorite programs we offer! Watching these students grow, elevate their skills on the dance floor, commit to bettering themselves both as dancers and people is such a joy. While we are always accepting new students on a rolling basis, we held a company audition at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy that reinvigorated us for a new season of excellence.
Maud is teaching the curriculum of More Than Moves at the Debbie Allen Middle School, with monthly lessons that align with the twelve-week program of the guided journal - in each session, she and the students work together on a week’s worth of material, discuss the theme at hand, and complete the book’s exercises. It is an incredible gift to be able to give back to Debbie Allen, who gave us everything when we were young (and continues to do so!) We met Debbie Allen in 1997 and the entire trajectory of our lives changed. We are honored to come back to our home at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and share what we’ve learned with the next generation!
NOVEMBER In partnership with the Rockettes, the Chloé and Maud Foundation offered 310 tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular to our community partners, giving the opportunity to see the show at no cost. With the support of the Rockettes, we can offer wonderful theatre experiences to students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend!
Sole Talk performed as part of a Little Amal Walk - Little Amal is a puppet of a 10 year old Syrian refugee, and is a global symbol of human rights. Between September and November 2023, she traveled through the United States and Mexico to more than 60 cities with 165 events, meeting over 650,000 people.
The mission of Creative Ladder speaks very closely to the Chloé and Maud Foundation’s - helping students from all backgrounds learn about creative careers and offers leadership training during their journeys, in an effort to make creative careers more accessible. We were honored to be Guest Presenters, leading a talk on “Redefining Success: Joy on the Journey,” bringing the lessons of joy that we've learned and share with our kids to the adult corporate landscape.
We threw a HUGE holiday party, celebrated in Chloé and Maud’s homes - it was a community affair, with over 100 foundation students and alumni, community partners, friends and family celebrating togetherness. Moments like this remind us of our purpose and of how far we’ve come.
Our Tap Into Life students in Brazil had their annual holiday show! It is a gift to see these students light up on stage, celebrate their wins and share their love for dance. For many students, this is their only artistic outlet, and the resources our programs provide bolster confidence and inspire endless potential.
DECEMBER
Chloé and Maud are making a MUSICAL! We were deep in development this month as part of a dance-focused residency with New York Stage and Film, and had a wonderful experience diving into the creative process and developing the show’s choreography. Chloé brought a group of mentees, scholarship students and foundation interns to not only be a part of the professional process but work on the show’s skeleton crew, and play a key role in the musical’s development.
This experience has been a literal dream come true. Chloé and Maud have given me everything and I owe them so much. Working with them has been everything I have ever dreamed about being able to be a part of. It has been amazing seeing the beginning stages of something that is soon to be a huge production! I feel so blessed, honored, and grateful to have been given this opportunity and I’m so excited to keep pushing, working hard, and to experience the next process!
— KEONI M.
PROGRAMS
ONGOING
DC TAP FEST HOLLYWOOD TAP FEST TAP INTO LIFE SOLE TALK SYNC SUNDAYS
TAP FESTIVALS
The Chloé and Maud Foundation presents two of the world’s premiere tap dance festivals - the DC Tap Fest and the Hollywood Tap Fest (co-produced with Debbie Allen). These annual events attract young people from all over the world to celebrate tap dance through master classes, filmmaking workshops, panel discussions, dance battles, jam sessions, and entrepreneurship courses. Our generous scholarship and internship programs have laid the groundwork for students to thrive on and off the dance floor, with accomplishments ranging from dance credits in Film and TV to educations at prestigious universities around the world. Our festivals are havens for the creative and artistic process, and foster growth of the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, and world changers.
SYNC SUNDAYS
The Chloé and Maud Foundation offers free dance classes every Sunday morning at CM Studios to dancers of all ages - the day starts with the Syncopated Babies, aged 2-7, and then there are classe for teenagers and adults. This once a week open class provides excellent dance training to the Los Angeles community, and offers a safe space for dancers to explore and find their voices on and off the dance floor.
TAP INTO LIFE
Our free after-school dance program offers students the opportunity to learn tap dance, hip-hop, entrepreneurship and life skills. Students focus on technique, history and choreography in both dance forms, journal about their goals each session, and are introduced to entrepreneurial techniques and practices. At the end of the course, there is a culminating performance for parents and the community. The program features choreography and spoken presentation of goals and skills learned. With thriving programs in South Central LA, Brazil, and expanding to New York City and Washington D.C., our impact is multiplying as more students tap into their greatness.
SOLE TALK
Our international youth tap dance company is committed to training and empowering young tap dancers in a diverse and positive environment. We focus on tap technique, self-esteem building, entrepreneurship skills, networking, and community service. With 150 members currently activated across the globe (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Latvia, Brazil, New Zealand), our monthly sessions offer rigorous training that leads to exciting performance opportunities in venues including the Skirball Center, the LA Children’s Book Fair, Literacy ACross Harlem, and more even opening for the internationally renowned Syncopated Ladies! Our dream is to help the next generation of thoughtful, intelligent, creative, free-thinking leaders flourish!
NEXT STEPS
GROW OUR TEAM. SHARE OUR GRATITUDE. EXPAND OUR REACH. FIND A HOME.
Hire an Executive Director ($175,000) and a Chief of Staff ($75,000) to expand our programming and foster growth.
Offer 1,000 sponsored More Than Moves Guided Journals (by Chloé and Maud) to all of our programs’ students. ($35,000)
Host Tap Into Life in more schools all over the world and develop virtual Home School programs. ($25,000 per school per year)
Buy (or build) a building to create a dance studio and office space that will serve as our Foundation’s home and our students’ safe haven. ($5 million)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN OUR MISSION AND THE WORK WE DO TO UPLIFT AND ACTIVATE YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD! 202-421-0235 @ C H L O E M A U D F O U N DAT I O N M A U D @ C H L O E A N D M A U D F O U N DAT I O N . O R G W W W . C H L O E A N D M A U D F O U N DAT I O N . O R G