Tracy Straus
Founding Director
Motivated by the belief that the arts have the unique power to help children discover their potential, Tracy founded “Celebrate the Beat” (CTB), the Colorado associate of National Dance Institute (NDI). CTB currently partners with schools throughout Colorado, inspiring thousands of children a year. Tracy is also the Artistic Associate for NDI, where she developed the Teacher Training program and continues to lead training programs. An actress as well as a dancer, she trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and performed in various off-Broadway venues. Other work includes associate producing the Tony Award-winning Broadway productions “Spring Awakening” and “American Idiot". As an arts consultant, Ms. Straus has worked to develop multicultural arts programs for schools across the USA and in Mexico and India. Tracy is an alumni of National Arts Strategies’ Chief Executive Program: Community and Culture, and was a fellow at NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts. She holds an MA from Bank Street College of Education, and a BA from the University of Michigan.