BOSTON RHYTHM RIDERS
For 20 years, Boston Rhythm Riders has used line dance, movement, and wellness to bring generations together.
Our 2026 Community Partners
Get to know the four organizations we’re celebrating this Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday 2026
Vivo Performing Arts works with over 50 community organizations each season, bringing the arts to everybody and everybody to the arts. This Giving Tuesday, December 1, we’re shining a spotlight on four community partners whose work makes Boston a more creative, connected, and joyful place. Every gift goes straight to the organization you choose.
Hyde Square Task Force
Grounding Jamaica Plain youth in Afro-Latin culture to nurture their voices, creativity, and power.
LGBTQ Senior Housing, Inc.
Welcoming, safe, and affordable housing and programs for LGBTQ seniors at The Pryde in Hyde Park.
musiConnects
Free and sliding-scale string lessons and chamber music for youth in Roslindale and Mattapan.
Learn More About Our Partners
Read their stories and find links to give directly.
Boston Rhythm Riders uses line dance, movement, and wellness to bring generations together, strengthen community connections, and make healthy living accessible. As they put it, dance is the invitation; wellness, culture, and community connection are the lasting purpose.
Founded by Creative Director Angela "Angie" Dickerson, Boston Rhythm Riders is celebrating 20 years of giving back to the community, including free line dancing in Boston's parks. Its current campaign, launched at Cambridge Carnival in September 2026, builds toward the Rhythm & Remedy Benefit Concert weekend, April 23–25, 2027. Gifts will fund a juicer to support cancer thrivers and, in the long term, a mini-van and a permanent community space for classes, events, and affordable shared space for small business owners.
"One of my most cherished experiences with Vivo Performing Arts was the workshop and performance experience at the Roxbury YMCA two years ago. Approximately 50 Boston Rhythm Riders Line Dance Lovers, representing different generations, took a field trip to experience Alvin Ailey. We learned choreography inspired by an Ailey production and brought our own energy to the experience by teaching and performing Boots on the Ground. … That experience represented so much more than a performance. It brought generations together, connected community dancers with professional artistry, and reminded us that the arts belong to everyone—not just those who have had formal training."
— Angela "Angie" Dickerson, Founder and Creative Director, Boston Rhythm Riders
Boston Rhythm Riders uses line dance, movement, and wellness to bring generations together, strengthen community connections, and make healthy living accessible. As they put it, dance is the invitation; wellness, culture, and community connection are the lasting purpose.
Founded by Creative Director Angela "Angie" Dickerson, Boston Rhythm Riders is celebrating 20 years of giving back to the community, including free line dancing in Boston's parks. Its current campaign, launched at Cambridge Carnival in September 2026, builds toward the Rhythm & Remedy Benefit Concert weekend, April 23–25, 2027. Gifts will fund a juicer to support cancer thrivers and, in the long term, a mini-van and a permanent community space for classes, events, and affordable shared space for small business owners.
"One of my most cherished experiences with Vivo Performing Arts was the workshop and performance experience at the Roxbury YMCA two years ago. Approximately 50 Boston Rhythm Riders Line Dance Lovers, representing different generations, took a field trip to experience Alvin Ailey. We learned choreography inspired by an Ailey production and brought our own energy to the experience by teaching and performing Boots on the Ground. … That experience represented so much more than a performance. It brought generations together, connected community dancers with professional artistry, and reminded us that the arts belong to everyone—not just those who have had formal training."
— Angela "Angie" Dickerson, Founder and Creative Director, Boston Rhythm Riders
Based in Jamaica Plain, Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) works to nurture and amplify the voices, creativity, and power of youth by grounding them in Afro-Latin culture so they can advance justice in their communities.
HSTF was formed in the 1980s by a coalition of neighbors and leaders responding to growing violence and related challenges in the Hyde/Jackson Square neighborhood. Its Jóvenes en Acción/Youth in Action program has since grown into an innovative approach to youth development for mostly Latinx, immigrant, and first-generation college-going young people. Today, HSTF also runs a College Success Program and Afro-Latin arts and community engagement programs, and helps lead Boston's Latin Quarter cultural district.
"Our partnership with Vivo Performing Arts has been so special over the past couple of years. One of the most rewarding aspects has been the opportunity for our youth to learn from visiting artists who bring new perspectives and creative experiences into our programs. One residency that stands out was Jenny Oliver's week with us, when she invited our young people to explore the connections between poetry, rhythm, and movement. What made the experience so meaningful was how she created space for every young person to participate, express themselves, and discover new ways to communicate through art. Partnerships like this help our youth see the possibilities of their own creativity and the power of art to connect us with one another."
— Nicolas Perez, Arts Manager, Hyde Square Task Force
Based in Jamaica Plain, Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) works to nurture and amplify the voices, creativity, and power of youth by grounding them in Afro-Latin culture so they can advance justice in their communities.
HSTF was formed in the 1980s by a coalition of neighbors and leaders responding to growing violence and related challenges in the Hyde/Jackson Square neighborhood. Its Jóvenes en Acción/Youth in Action program has since grown into an innovative approach to youth development for mostly Latinx, immigrant, and first-generation college-going young people. Today, HSTF also runs a College Success Program and Afro-Latin arts and community engagement programs, and helps lead Boston's Latin Quarter cultural district.
"Our partnership with Vivo Performing Arts has been so special over the past couple of years. One of the most rewarding aspects has been the opportunity for our youth to learn from visiting artists who bring new perspectives and creative experiences into our programs. One residency that stands out was Jenny Oliver's week with us, when she invited our young people to explore the connections between poetry, rhythm, and movement. What made the experience so meaningful was how she created space for every young person to participate, express themselves, and discover new ways to communicate through art. Partnerships like this help our youth see the possibilities of their own creativity and the power of art to connect us with one another."
— Nicolas Perez, Arts Manager, Hyde Square Task Force
LGBTQ Senior Housing, Inc. facilitates access to welcoming, safe, and affordable housing for low-income LGBTQ seniors, and provides onsite services and programming that help older adults age in place.
After nearly a decade of work with developer Pennrose, the organization opened The Pryde in June 2024: 74 mixed-income homes in the former Rogers Middle School in Hyde Park, and the first LGBTQ-affirming, income-restricted senior housing development in New England. LGBTQ Senior Housing runs The Pryde Community Center, which hosts programs, events, workshops, and livestreamed performances that combat elder isolation and connect residents with the wider community.
"Our partnership with Vivo Performing Arts over the years has been extraordinary. As an organization that serves older adults who've often experienced a lifetime of marginalization, having so many incredible and accessible opportunities to be included in Boston's arts community is very meaningful. Beyond receiving free and discounted tickets to performances and having performers visit The Pryde Community Center, our organization was lucky enough to be a site for the livestream of Yo-Yo's concert. When designing The Pryde, the LGBTQ Senior Housing team intentionally considered ways to combat elder isolation by including spaces for livestreamed programs, and it's so great to find partnership in an organization that lives out shared values of inclusion!"
— Isabelle Thibault, Director of Programs and Services, LGBTQ Senior Housing, Inc.
LGBTQ Senior Housing, Inc. facilitates access to welcoming, safe, and affordable housing for low-income LGBTQ seniors, and provides onsite services and programming that help older adults age in place.
After nearly a decade of work with developer Pennrose, the organization opened The Pryde in June 2024: 74 mixed-income homes in the former Rogers Middle School in Hyde Park, and the first LGBTQ-affirming, income-restricted senior housing development in New England. LGBTQ Senior Housing runs The Pryde Community Center, which hosts programs, events, workshops, and livestreamed performances that combat elder isolation and connect residents with the wider community.
"Our partnership with Vivo Performing Arts over the years has been extraordinary. As an organization that serves older adults who've often experienced a lifetime of marginalization, having so many incredible and accessible opportunities to be included in Boston's arts community is very meaningful. Beyond receiving free and discounted tickets to performances and having performers visit The Pryde Community Center, our organization was lucky enough to be a site for the livestream of Yo-Yo's concert. When designing The Pryde, the LGBTQ Senior Housing team intentionally considered ways to combat elder isolation by including spaces for livestreamed programs, and it's so great to find partnership in an organization that lives out shared values of inclusion!"
— Isabelle Thibault, Director of Programs and Services, LGBTQ Senior Housing, Inc.
musiConnects fosters youth development and community connection through the craft of string playing, using chamber music as a vehicle for social change.
musiConnects was founded in 2007 by Betsy Hinkle, starting with a resident string quartet that taught free violin, viola, cello, and chamber music at the Chittick School in Mattapan. Now in its 19th season, it serves over 100 students in Roslindale, Mattapan, and surrounding neighborhoods through sliding-scale and tuition-free lessons at its Roslindale Studio, a tuition-free in-school program at Mattahunt Elementary, and a free Community Concert Series performed by its Resident Musicians, the Great Hill String Quartet.
"Vivo Performing Arts has been an important partner to musiConnects dating back nearly 15 years to the beginning of the Neighborhood Arts Initiative. Together we brought dozens of free performances to churches and community venues in Mattapan. Today, Vivo Performing Arts makes it possible for our students to attend incredible performances for free and envision themselves on those stages. From our whole musiConnects family, thank you for these opportunities!"
— Erica Schiller, Executive Director, musiConnects
musiConnects fosters youth development and community connection through the craft of string playing, using chamber music as a vehicle for social change.
musiConnects was founded in 2007 by Betsy Hinkle, starting with a resident string quartet that taught free violin, viola, cello, and chamber music at the Chittick School in Mattapan. Now in its 19th season, it serves over 100 students in Roslindale, Mattapan, and surrounding neighborhoods through sliding-scale and tuition-free lessons at its Roslindale Studio, a tuition-free in-school program at Mattahunt Elementary, and a free Community Concert Series performed by its Resident Musicians, the Great Hill String Quartet.
"Vivo Performing Arts has been an important partner to musiConnects dating back nearly 15 years to the beginning of the Neighborhood Arts Initiative. Together we brought dozens of free performances to churches and community venues in Mattapan. Today, Vivo Performing Arts makes it possible for our students to attend incredible performances for free and envision themselves on those stages. From our whole musiConnects family, thank you for these opportunities!"
— Erica Schiller, Executive Director, musiConnects
Support Vivo Performing Arts
Every performance we share is made possible by people who believe the arts belong to everyone. Your gift to Vivo Performing Arts supports our Community Engagement programs, which bring the arts to everybody and everybody to the arts. Each season, Community Partner Ticketing welcomes hundreds of audience members from schools, youth arts groups, and other Boston-based community organizations, while Neighborhood Arts, Artists in Community, and our Outdoor Public Projects fill beloved community spaces across our city with music and joy.
When you become a Member, with memberships beginning at $25, you support over 100 live events per year, more than half of them presented free of charge. Together, we can welcome more artists, more audiences, and more moments of awe into our community—on stages, on streets, in neighborhoods, everywhere.