Making Women’s Leadership Visible Through Dance
Women in Dance creates opportunities for artists, scholars, educators, students, and communities to share their work, exchange ideas, build lasting connections, and shape the future of dance.
Our Mission
Women in Dance promotes and advocates for women’s leadership in dance and through dance education.
We create visible platforms for artistic work, scholarship, education, and dialogue while strengthening the capacity, connection, and influence of women across dance and related fields.
Our Vision
We envision a global dance community in which women have equitable access to leadership, presentation, education, mentorship, and professional opportunity.
We believe that when women’s voices, ideas, and creative work are seen and valued, the entire field becomes more innovative, inclusive, and connected.
Why This Work Matters
74.9 %
Women comprised 74.9% of the U.S. dancers and choreographers workforce in 2024.
30.7%
Women held only 30.7% of artistic director positions at the large ballet and classically based companies examined worldwide in 2026.
Women represent approximately three-quarters of the dance and choreography workforce in the United States, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in positions that shape artistic vision, programming, employment, and institutional priorities. In Dance Data Project®’s 2026 study of 215 artistic directors at leading ballet and classically based companies worldwide, only 30.7% were women.
Women in Dance works to help close this leadership gap by creating platforms where women can present their work, exchange knowledge, build professional relationships, and prepare for leadership across the field.
Our Story
Women in Dance was founded in 2013 by Sandra Shih Parks with a belief that women in dance needed broader platforms, stronger professional connections, and more opportunities to lead.
What began as a vision for an international leadership conference has grown into a network of programs connecting performance, scholarship, film, education, career development, and cultural exchange.
Our Journey
2013
Women in Dance Is Founded
Sandra Shih Parks establishes Women in Dance as a platform dedicated to increasing visibility, connection, and leadership opportunities for women throughout the dance field.
2015
The First Leadership Conference
Artists, scholars, educators, and leaders gather in Baton Rouge to present creative and scholarly work, exchange ideas, and begin building an international community.
2021
An International Film Partnership Begins
Women in Dance establishes an ongoing partnership with 7artscafe in Yokohama, Japan, expanding international opportunities for women creating dance and movement-based films.
TODAY
A Growing International Network
Women in Dance connects artists and audiences through leadership conferences, film screenings, education, mentorship, advocacy, professional development, and cultural exchange.
Our story continues through every artist who shares her work, every leader who opens a door, and every connection that strengthens the future of dance.
What We Do
Our programs connect dance with leadership, education, culture, professional development, and community.
Women in Dance Leadership Conference
Our biennial international conference brings together artists, scholars, educators, students, and arts leaders for performances, keynote presentations, panel discussions, movement workshops, dance-film screenings, scholarly presentations, and professional exchange.
The conference creates a visible platform for work created by women while encouraging dialogue about leadership, equity, artistry, and the future of the field.
International Film Festival & Screening Series
The Women in Dance International Film Festival & Screening Series celebrates films that explore movement, choreography, culture, identity, and human connection.
Through an expanding network of presenting partners, selected films reach audiences across communities and countries, supporting artistic exchange and increasing the visibility of women and gender-diverse filmmakers and choreographers.
Education & Career Pathways
Women in Dance supports students and emerging artists through thoughtful dance education, mentorship, career exploration, and personalized guidance.
Career Pathways helps dancers and families understand college, training, professional, and interdisciplinary possibilities so that they can make informed decisions and build meaningful futures in dance and beyond.
Our Impact
Since 2015, Women in Dance has created international platforms for hundreds of artists and scholars while connecting their work with local communities, presenters, educators, and audiences.
5 International leadership conferences presented
300+ Women artists and scholars Selected
2,000+ Submissions considered
27 Countries represented
29 U.S. states represented
5 Conference host cities
Baton Rouge · Chicago · Los Angeles · New York City · Philadelphia
What We Value
Visibility
We create platforms where women’s artistry, scholarship, leadership, and ideas can be encountered and valued.
Equity
We advocate for greater access to leadership, presentation, resources, recognition, and professional opportunity.
Artistic Excellence
We support work that demonstrates curiosity, rigor, originality, cultural relevance, and a commitment to continued growth.
Cultural Exchange
We bring together people, practices, and perspectives across disciplines, communities, and national borders.
Education
We believe dance education can develop creative thinking, confidence, communication, adaptability, and leadership.
Connection
We cultivate relationships that extend beyond a single event and contribute to a stronger international dance community.
Founder & Executive Director
Sandra Shih Parks
Founder and Executive Director
Sandra Shih Parks is a choreographer, arts executive, educator, researcher, and advocate for women’s leadership in the performing arts. She founded Women in Dance in 2013 to create broader platforms for women to present their work, build meaningful professional relationships, and contribute to the future of the field.
Her interdisciplinary work connects dance, cultural research, education, technology, and international exchange. Through Women in Dance, Sandra has brought together artists, scholars, filmmakers, educators, and leaders from around the world.
Our Community
Women in Dance’s work is made possible through relationships with artists, scholars, educators, students, audiences, presenting organizations, universities, cultural institutions, community partners, sponsors, and individual supporters.
Together, these collaborators help create opportunities for artistic exchange, education, mentorship, presentation, and leadership.
Join the Movement
Help Women in Dance expand the visibility, connection, and influence of women throughout the field.
Attend a program, submit your work, become a presenting partner, support an artist, or join our international community.