The Dance and Music Festival (DMF) is a family friendly festival that was created by Yolanda Pauling, the late Sam “The Man” Burns and Tracy Stevens. Our goal is to give our youth and families hope for their future and encourage mentorship, present positive self-images, and role models.

Ms. Pauling works with the DC Metropolitan Police Department and sees the trifle of today’s youth. It seems that our youth need something to do and something to focus on. We feel that dance and music can fill that void and it has great benefits. Dancing improves the condition of your heart and lungs, gives you muscular strength, and can be used as aerobic exercises which improves weight management.

Ms. Stevens is a teaching artist that has shaped students from the 1stto the 8thgrade students into striving future entrepreneurs. She believes that the creation of DMF takes focus off the streets and into something positive. Also improving your mood and attitude. Dancing is known to improve the way that you learn, move, and perform.

Sam “The Man” Burns was a legacy producer and DJ within the Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area. His passion for our program consisted of mentoring our youths and providing them with the educational resources for those who aspired to work in the entertainment filed.