SOUTHWEST DANCE EXISTS SOLELY TO PROMOTE THE AMATEUR DANCE EXPERIENCE. NONE OF THE STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO AUDITION FOR MEMBERSHIP OPENING UP THE WORLD OF DANCE TO STUDENTS OF ANY SKILL LEVEL, A MUCH BROADER AUDIENCE THAN A TRADITIONAL STUDIO. THE MOTIVATING FORCE BEHIND THE STUDIO IS NOT ONLY DEVELOPING EXCELLENT DANCERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY DEVELOPING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE USEFUL, IMAGINATIVE, AND HEALTHY HUMAN BEINGS. IN THE WORDS OF THE FOUNDER, "OUR DACERS KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOVED THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STATEMENT, THEIR OWN MUSIC, THEIR OWN DANCE WAITING TO BE CREATED. SOUTHWEST DANCE IS A LAB FOR YOUNG, INVENTIVE MINDS. WE ARE THE KEEPERS OF INNOCENCE, THE MAKERS OF DREAMS." THEY DIFFER FROM A COMMERCIAL STUDIO IN THAT THEY RELY ON PUBLIC SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO THEIR PARTICIPANTS AT REDUCED OR NO COST.