NexGen/Youth Dance Project
Threads Dance Project & Threads Nexus, 2213 Snelling Ave Suite #100, Ste. #100, Minneapolis, MN 55404
About
NexGen/Youth Dance Project includes dance classes and a summer dance camp that feature ballet, modern dance, nutrition workshops, embodied movement exploration, and journaling. The program offers the Creative Connections Project, the Young Movers Project, and the Young Dancers Project as part of its regular class options.
• Ages: 4–16 years old
• Schedule: Creative Connections Project meets for twelve 1-hour classes; Young Movers Project meets for twelve 90-minute classes; Young Dancers Project meets for twelve 2-hour classes; Young Mover’s Project Summer Dance Camp runs July 6–17, 2026; Young Dancers Project Summer Dance Camp runs July 6–17, 2026
• Price: Creative Connections Project: $150 for twelve 1-hour classes; Young Movers Project: $225 for twelve 90-minute classes; Young Dancers Project: $300 for twelve 2-hour classes
The program includes the Creative Connections Project on Mondays from 4:30–5:30 PM, the Young Dancers Project on Tuesdays from 5–7:15 PM, and the Young Movers Project on Wednesdays from 5–6:45 PM. Students are required to wear black or purple leotards, flesh/pink transitional tights with a hole in the bottom of the foot, and flesh/pink ballet shoes to class. Limited need-based scholarships are available, and a light snack is provided for the Young Movers Project and Young Dancers Project. Fall sessions conclude with an in-studio, open-to-families class, and spring sessions end with a youth performance at the Southern Theater on May 3, 2026. Classes teach students how movement can be healing and help students understand and nourish their bodies and minds, and the program is designed to nurture confidence, strength, and holistic well-being while empowering young dancers through high-quality training and holistic support. The goal of NexGen/Youth Dance Project is to develop and nurture the next generation of dance performers, creators, and supporters, and it offers a supportive and inclusive environment for young dancers to thrive.
Threads Dance Project, which runs NexGen/Youth Dance Project, is a contemporary dance company that has been sharing dance with the community since 2011. Threads Dance Project was founded by Karen L. Charles with the mission to examine, expose and celebrate the threads that connect us. The leadership team includes founding Artistic/Executive Director Karen L. Charles and Programs & Community Engagement Manager Odessa. Threads Dance Project has been nominated for a MN SAGE DANCE AWARD and is widely recognized for its commitment to diversity and the ability for its programming to resonate with a broad audience. Threads provides opportunities for people of all ages to create and experience dance through a variety of classes and workshops offered at its local studio, Threads Dance Nexus.
This program was made possible with funding from the Hennepin County Youth Activities Grant and the administrative support of the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department. A Star Tribune testimonial from Pamela Espeland notes that Karen L. Charles’s mission goes beyond “just dancing” to embrace themes like race and gender roles, translating them into choreography described as having beauty and soulfulness.
Last updated June 27, 2026.
• Ages: 4–16 years old
• Schedule: Creative Connections Project meets for twelve 1-hour classes; Young Movers Project meets for twelve 90-minute classes; Young Dancers Project meets for twelve 2-hour classes; Young Mover’s Project Summer Dance Camp runs July 6–17, 2026; Young Dancers Project Summer Dance Camp runs July 6–17, 2026
• Price: Creative Connections Project: $150 for twelve 1-hour classes; Young Movers Project: $225 for twelve 90-minute classes; Young Dancers Project: $300 for twelve 2-hour classes
The program includes the Creative Connections Project on Mondays from 4:30–5:30 PM, the Young Dancers Project on Tuesdays from 5–7:15 PM, and the Young Movers Project on Wednesdays from 5–6:45 PM. Students are required to wear black or purple leotards, flesh/pink transitional tights with a hole in the bottom of the foot, and flesh/pink ballet shoes to class. Limited need-based scholarships are available, and a light snack is provided for the Young Movers Project and Young Dancers Project. Fall sessions conclude with an in-studio, open-to-families class, and spring sessions end with a youth performance at the Southern Theater on May 3, 2026. Classes teach students how movement can be healing and help students understand and nourish their bodies and minds, and the program is designed to nurture confidence, strength, and holistic well-being while empowering young dancers through high-quality training and holistic support. The goal of NexGen/Youth Dance Project is to develop and nurture the next generation of dance performers, creators, and supporters, and it offers a supportive and inclusive environment for young dancers to thrive.
Threads Dance Project, which runs NexGen/Youth Dance Project, is a contemporary dance company that has been sharing dance with the community since 2011. Threads Dance Project was founded by Karen L. Charles with the mission to examine, expose and celebrate the threads that connect us. The leadership team includes founding Artistic/Executive Director Karen L. Charles and Programs & Community Engagement Manager Odessa. Threads Dance Project has been nominated for a MN SAGE DANCE AWARD and is widely recognized for its commitment to diversity and the ability for its programming to resonate with a broad audience. Threads provides opportunities for people of all ages to create and experience dance through a variety of classes and workshops offered at its local studio, Threads Dance Nexus.
This program was made possible with funding from the Hennepin County Youth Activities Grant and the administrative support of the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department. A Star Tribune testimonial from Pamela Espeland notes that Karen L. Charles’s mission goes beyond “just dancing” to embrace themes like race and gender roles, translating them into choreography described as having beauty and soulfulness.
Last updated June 27, 2026.
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