Friends of Metro Dance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1995 to support the financial and volunteer needs of the Metro Parks Dance Division beyond the scope of government funding. Friends of Metro Dance funds performances including Centennial Youth Ballet’s Mini-Nutcracker and spring performances, free community programs, professional development for faculty, guest teaching artists, student scholarships, costumes, set pieces, state-of-the-art studio equipment and specialty instructors for programs such as Dancing with Parkinson’s and the annual Summer Intensive.