Our Story

United We Dance NWA started with an idea. In 2013 our founders: Joe, Hailey, Bill, and Barbara discussed the benefits of a free social event in the community that focused on inclusion. An event that could be held several times per year with no cost to the attendees. Our team recognized early on that individuals with developmental disabilities didn’t have a surplus of discretionary funds available and there was a lack of disability inclusive events in Northwest Arkansas. We set out to remove the barrier, creating a safe and fun inclusive event. Each of our founding members brought unique talents to the group.

In April 2014 the idea finally became a reality, United We Dance NWA hosted its first-ever dance. We began our first year of dances at the local Boys and Girls Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas. All of these initial dances were a complete blast. We saw so many different agencies coming and participating that it just blew our minds. As we began to near the end of the year, we start thinking about how awesome it would be to have a Prom-themed Formal as our last dance of the year. After much planning, we held our very first Fall Formal at the Springdale Senior Center in October 2014. It was a fall-themed formal dance complete with a professional photographer, a banquet-style dinner, red carpet event, and decorations galore! We’ve continued to hold Prom-themed Formal annually every since.

In 2016, United We Dance NWA was blessed to have our friends at Saint Gabriel’s Anglican Church donate the funds necessary for us to obtain our 501c3 Non-profit status. Our non-profit has been beyond blessed to receive support from amazing companies and members of the community who have generously donated money or time to sponsor our dances. These groups have made an impact and a world of difference in our community, one dance at a time. Our sponsors share our commitment to barrier-free friendships and connections. It is because of our volunteers and sponsors that we can achieve our goal of providing a monthly free dance where we can all celebrate our abilities together!

Our Ambassadors

Our ambassadors are a group of strong spirited individuals who are making Northwest Arkansas a better place for all. These ambassadors act as advocates, share stories, and demonstrate the values of an inclusive community across Northwest Arkansas.