Dance Team World
Education Foundation
Why the dance community needs a non-profit organization like ours to support school-based dance through education, access, inclusion, recognition, resources, and connection…
DO YOU REMEMBER VIRTUAL DANCE NATIONALS?
Dance Team World didn’t start as an organization. It started as a movement…
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, our founder Activate Arroyo created Virtual Dance Nationals as a safe, online platform for school-based dance programs to celebrate their creativity and resilience. The event went viral, inspiring coaches, educators & dancers across the country to share their art.
By 2023, our founder expanded those community-building efforts into Dance Team World, launching a popular vlog that continues to grow on social media as an educational resource for school-based dance programs.
In 2025, Dance Team World formally became the Dance Team World Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, expanding its original community-building work into a broader mission centered on education, access, inclusion, leadership, resources, and connection.
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
ACTIVATE ARROYO
President / Executive Director
When it comes to school-based dance programs, Activate Arroyo isn’t just a producer… he’s one of you.
With roots as a coach, choreographer, and full-time high school dance teacher, Activate brings a rare and authentic perspective. He knows firsthand what it takes to build a school dance program, lead a team, and inspire young dancers to greatness (because he’s done it himself every step of the way).
Activate trained at the world-renowned EDGE Performing Arts Center in Hollywood and holds a BFA in Film & Television Production from UCLA and an MFA in Arts Education. In 2006, he left the commercial dance industry to dedicate himself to public education and youth arts. In 2009, he opened the dance department at Grand Arts High School (Los Angeles, CA) and later transformed his program at Mark Keppel High School (Alhambra, CA) into one of the top-ranked in the country (his dance students have earned 40 national championship titles since 2016). He currently continues in his role as MKHS Dance Teacher, where he also serves as Visual & Performing Arts Department Chair.
His career highlights include:
🏆 Creative Consultant for the 2016 Rio Olympics Opening/Closing Ceremonies
🏆 Featured Coach & Co-Choreographer on NBC’s World of Dance and America’s Got Talent
🏆 Executive Producer of Miss Dance Drill Team USA 50th Anniversary National Competition, where he also served as Executive Director/Producer for 12 years.
🏆 Created the world’s first live-streamed Virtual Dance Nationals during the COVID-19 lockdown
After more than two decades as a public-school dance educator, coach, choreographer, and event producer, Activate is now focused on building a stronger support system for school-based dance programs nationwide. Through DTWEF, he is bringing together education, inclusive programming, events, scholarships, technology, and industry resources to help dancers and educators access more opportunities while strengthening the broader school-based dance community.
Because at Dance Team World, it’s simple: We are you.
GOVERNANCE / BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Herson Mojica, PhD
Vice PresidentFounding Board Member
Lacy Brooke Ramon
TreasurerFounding Board Member
Monica Carranza
DirectorEvent Experience & Adjudication
Christine Avila
DirectorOperations & Beyond Limits
