A museum beyond walls.
Movement without limits.
We exist to centralize, serve, and celebrate, in global scope, the art and language of dance.
We exist to centralize, serve, and celebrate, in global scope, the art and language of dance.
The International Museum of Dance (IMOD) is the first and only international dance museum of the 21st century, dedicated to honoring and preserving the rich legacies of dance worldwide. We provide a unique platform to tell the stories of remarkable dance artists and movements that may otherwise remain untold.
At IMOD, we center dance as humanity’s irresistible, critical art form and language—a vibrant part of human history and culture connecting communities worldwide. Through immersive exhibitions, live activities, and interactive performances, we offer a beautiful home and anchor for dance, making visible the incredible work of dancers, choreographers, and cultural contributors from every corner of the world.
The International Museum of Dance fosters shared human experience through the understanding, exploration, and participation in the art and language of dance.
IMOD is redefining the scope of a traditional museum through online and in-person experiences that celebrate, integrate and teach dance across communities, cultures and generations worldwide. IMOD is building this vibrant, inclusive ecosystem in partnership with notable artists, educators, technology innovators, and cultural institutions, elevating the diversity, interconnectedness, and cultural impact of an indispensable universal art form.
Explore the past, live the present, and shape the future of this ever-evolving art form. Whether you’re engaging with traditional, contemporary, or emerging dance practices, IMOD celebrates all forms of dance!
Dance is alive, dynamic, and constantly in motion. IMOD reflects this energy, embracing the joy of movement through a museum experience that is as much about participation as observation.
We are The International Museum of Dance—where dance legacies and cultures are finally made visible and celebrated. The future of dance is in our hands.
IMOD recognizes the need for a dance archive that preserves the works that make up the legacies of our time’s greatest dancers and choreographers. We are partnering with companies that use cutting-edge technology to capture these historic items in digital format while protecting physical collections and making them accessible to the public as part of the IMOD Legacy Trust.
Digital platforms and mobile exhibits are being designed to highlight dancers’ connections and allow the public to explore the history of dance in a personal and impactful way. Our exhibitions and archival materials are curated by members of the global dance community, among them artists representing cultures that have been overlooked for generations. As a result, IMOD honors our collective dance histories, celebrates practices in today’s dance world, and supports and shapes the future of dance.
We must move quickly to capture these items before it is too late. If you have a collection that needs safeguarding, contact us at info@museumdance.org.
As part of IMOD’s mission to capture the stories of living legends in the dance world, founder Hilary Palanza created MOD POD in 2021. This unique podcast directed by Jamie Wright allows artists to tell their stories and share insights from a lifetime devoted to dance. It asks the question of why we dance and uncovers the universal truths that make up the answer.
Jamie Ray Wright (he/him/his) serves as the IMOD Director and Producer of the MODPOD Podcast. Starting first behind-the-scenes of MODPOD, he moved into the spotlight as the podcast host and now voice of MODPOD.
In 2025, IMOD will make dance more accessible and inclusive by creating an accelerator space for innovation, exploration, and community connection. Located in San Francisco, California, the IMOD Innovation Lab will provide creative spaces for exhibits, rehearsals, performances, film festivals, and special events. Interactive experiences will immerse the public in the joyful expression of movement, and collections from the IMOD Legacy Trust archives will provide insight into the touching stories of the world’s most incredible dancers and choreographers. The museum’s store will feature unique gifts that translate dance themes into modern designs, and the cafe at the heart of the complex will be the rhythm that keeps everyone moving.