| io manufactures dancewear, shoes and | | | | philanthropic donations help to sustain voluntary |
| accessories for many different styles of dance | | | | work in the field of dance. |
| such as ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom and urban styles. | | | | Capezio’s dancewear shoes are highly |
| Their products are internationally renowned for a | | | | regarded amongst amateur, recreational and |
| high quality of design and production, and the | | | | professional dancers, and many people choose |
| company was originally founded by Salvatore | | | | them as a guarantee of quality. Capezio also runs |
| Capezio who repaired and designed dancewear | | | | a dance school in New York, which offers a wide |
| shoes for the Metropolitan Opera House in New | | | | range of courses for children and adults. Capezio |
| York. As Capezio’s popularity has grown | | | | dancewear, shoes and accessories are sold on |
| throughout the world, the company has been able | | | | site, so that students can benefit from the high |
| to offer opportunities to many young dancers | | | | quality dancewear during their studies. |
| through a series of training programmes and | | | | Capezio’s dance school is known as the |
| grant schemes. | | | | ‘Peridance Programme’, and is |
| Salvatore Capezio could never have dreamed that | | | | designed to be a community dance school which |
| his modest business in dancewear shoes would | | | | can offer a high level of education from |
| one day inspire dancers across the globe, and | | | | professional dancers, to both youth and adult |
| today Capezio runs a dance foundation with a | | | | students. They have a strong international link, |
| clear mission. Their aim is to encourage a greater | | | | and students travel from all over the world to |
| awareness and appreciation of dance as an art | | | | attend the Manhattan school. |
| form, to support the legacy of past dance | | | | Peridance runs a variety of courses covering a |
| legends, acknowledge current talents, and to | | | | wide range of dance styles, and for a wide range |
| encourage new generations to become involved in | | | | of abilities. They run summer schools for children |
| dance. This is achieved by creating an award, | | | | which are particularly popular, and encourage |
| which is bestowed annually to an individual or | | | | youngsters to develop their dance skills. Summer |
| organisation that is considered to have made a | | | | courses often finish with a performance in a |
| substantial and important contribution to dance. | | | | Manhattan theatre, to help the children to |
| One of the most notable honourees of the | | | | consolidate their learning. Adult classes can be |
| Capezio Dance Award was Fred Astaire, and the | | | | taken at the Peridance centre, and their range of |
| award serves to highlight and applaud dedicated | | | | expertise is impressive. Mature students can take |
| contributors. | | | | classes in the traditional ballet, tap, and jazz, but |
| Since Capezio began from humble beginnings | | | | there are also more adventurous classes on offer |
| making dancewear shoes, the company is keen | | | | such as flamenco, sword fighting, theatre, hip hop, |
| to give something back to non-profit organisations | | | | and tai chi. Capezio’s international |
| that help to provide dance services. The grant is | | | | reputation and firm standing within the dance |
| awarded to organisations which are selected from | | | | world has allowed them to create many |
| an application process, and Capezio’s | | | | opportunities for dancers, both young and old. |