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Don't Miss "Grace to the Rescue" on June 2nd (7 PM) with a Sidewalk Pet Adoption Event (6 PM)
Dance for Paws presents Grace to the Rescue
Venue: Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, NYC
Time: Sidewalk adoption in collaboration with Best Friends Animal Society and Muddy Paws Rescue on Monday, June 2 @ 6 PM | Performance @ 7 PM
About: A debut performance that harnesses the power of dance to help the precious paws among us! Step into a world where dance meets compassion. Dance for Paws brings together the nation’s most extraordinary dancers for an unforgettable evening of art, heart, and purpose, all to support homeless animals in desperate need. This powerful debut performance blends the elegance of movement with the strength of community, using dance as a beacon of hope to raise critical funds for animal rescues and veterinary care.
Tickets + More Info: CLICK HERE
Hello, readers. My name is Sarah Lane. I’m the founder of Dance for Paws — but long before that, I was a dancer. And before dance became my world, I was simply a girl who loved to be moved — by music, by nature, by imagination. What has always inspired me are the deeply human experiences: community, purpose, empathy, connection, and creativity.
Over the years, I’ve learned to trust those quiet, inexplicable feelings — the grounding of the earth beneath my feet, the warmth of a hug, the freedom in a gust of wind, the unspoken bond between living beings, and the universal longing to love and be loved. When life becomes chaotic, I find myself grappling with who I am and who I want to be, what I want to do and what I can’t. But what always brings me back to my true self and anchors my soul are those small, pure moments: the swell of emotion in a piece of music, the free scent of wildflowers not expensively bottled, or the spontaneous happiness of my dogs greeting me at the door.
When I lost my first dog suddenly, I felt a deep helplessness. She was so precious — did anyone else know? And if they didn’t, did that somehow make her life matter less? That grief opened my eyes to the millions of animals whose stories go untold, whose lives are lived behind bars, unknown but no less worthy. The idea of any creature being robbed of connection, joy and love shakes me to my core. I accept that I can't save them all — but I can try. Dance for Paws was born from that hope, from the laughter and love brought into my life by M&M, Earl Grey, Vixen, Tehya, Cora, and Maya. My pets though the years have always reminded me to embrace vulnerability, to find joy in simple things, and to live with purpose. They have grounded me in love — and to love is the most fundamental, life-giving force we know.
Photo courtesy of Dance for Paws
Dance for Paws is powered by that love, and by the belief that art — especially dance — can open hearts and create change. I’ve spent countless hours nurturing every detail of this project, from the smallest logistical tasks to the most soul-stirring collaborations. Now, as this dream takes shape with the help of a community bound by compassion, we are discovering that we are all artists. Volunteers, veterinarians, dancers, audience members — we come together in a beautiful kind of chaos. Somewhere in that crowd, someone will meet the gaze of a homeless animal, and it will be love at first sight. The curtain will rise, transporting us to a space of shared feeling. And when it falls, something will have shifted: nerves turned into gratitude, helplessness into hope, loneliness into love. Dance for Paws is a reflection of everything that makes me who I am — and everything that connects us in the most honest, humble way. Join us. Help save precious lives. And perhaps, in the process, you’ll be moved by the same mysterious forces that turn life into art.
Grace to the Rescue begins at 6pm on June 2nd with a sidewalk adoption event in collaboration with Best Friends Animal Society and Muddy Paws Rescue outside Symphony Space. The performance featuring top dancers from in and around NYC commences at 7pm inside the theater. VIP guests can meet and mingle with the dancers and volunteers at a post-performance reception at Bar Thalia.
For tickets or more information on how you can get involved, click here.
