support rhythmic arts center

A home for rhythm, movement, and cultural connection.

our mission

Rhythmic Arts Center NYC (RAC), founded by Nicholas Young and Melissa Wu, is a multidisciplinary creative space in the heart of El Barrio / Spanish Harlem devoted to tap dance, body percussion, sound healing, and holistic movement arts.

Our mission is to honor rhythm as a unifying human language—bridging art, culture, and spirit through community practice, performance, and education. We exist to preserve tradition, spark innovation, and create an inclusive home where artists and audiences connect through sound, movement, and shared humanity.

About the Founders

Nicholas Young — Founder & Artistic Director
Nicholas is an acclaimed tap dancer, choreographer, and musician whose 25-year career includes performances with STOMP, Dorrance Dance, and Tapestry Dance Company. He is a globally sought-after educator and festival artist, teaching and performing at major tap dance festivals worldwide—from the United States to Europe, Asia, and South America—sharing his expertise and passion for the rhythmic arts across cultures.

A lifelong advocate for rhythm-based education, Nicholas is known for merging percussion, music, and movement into unified storytelling. His vision for RAC is rooted in building an equitable, transparent, and artist-driven community that values rhythm as both art and spiritual practice.

Melissa Wu — Executive Director & Co-Visionary
Melissa is a lifelong yogi, sound healer, and multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn. A Hong Kong native, she integrates her studies in dance, somatics, psychology, and Eastern medicine into her teaching of Kundalini Yoga and creative healing. Through her collectives WUWU and 828 Media, Melissa uplifts artists and nonprofits through art direction and social-justice storytelling—centering transformation, resilience, and self-expression.

Her leadership reflects a commitment to cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion, guided by a belief that creative practice can transform both individual and collective experience.

Our Vision

At the Rhythmic Arts Center, we believe rhythm and music are the foundations of all dance—the universal pulse that connects body, mind, and spirit.

Our vision is to cultivate what feels like a music and dance festival that never ends—a living celebration of movement, sound, and creativity that honors lineage while welcoming evolution.

Located in Spanish Harlem, RAC reflects the cultural richness of its surroundings and the diverse histories that shaped rhythm itself. Tap dance is a Black American art form, and its legacy guides our ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility in everything we do.

By providing a space and platform for all rhythm arts—across dance, music, and sound—we foster understanding and acceptance of one another through shared creative experience. RAC is built on respect, admiration, and celebration of multicultural roots, acknowledging each other’s lineage and heritage through culture and spirituality.

We view Rhythmic Arts as a spiritual practice—a way to cultivate mindfulness, community, and connection through rhythm.

RAC also models fairness and transparency in its structure and leadership, ensuring a sustainable foundation that serves artists and community alike. Through this approach, we aim to create not just a studio, but a living ecosystem of trust, collaboration, and shared purpose.

Our Space

RAC is the first studio in New York City designed specifically for percussive and rhythmic arts.
The center features:

A handcrafted maple sprung floor, inspired by Brenda Bufalino’s Woodpeckers Studio
A professional sound system, backline, and streaming/recording setup
An intimate black-box performance space with exposed brick for classes, residencies, and small concerts
Amenities designed for accessibility, comfort, and creative flow

Programming includes tap and body percussion, sound baths and meditation, African and Afro-Caribbean dance, yoga and healing arts, and experimental residencies—offered at community-conscious rates.

How Your Support Helps

Your tax-deductible contribution, made through our fiscal sponsor Dorrance Dance, directly sustains this mission.

Your generosity supports:

Operational stability — rent, utilities, and equipment upkeep
Essential staff — Artistic Director, Executive Director, Administrative Director, and Front Desk Coordinator
Community programming, outreach, and artist residencies
Studio improvements and educational initiatives promoting cultural exchange and inclusion

Every donation—large or small—helps ensure that this vision thrives: a space where art, spirituality, and community pulse together in rhythm.