The Art Beat Foundation was founded in 2018 by professional tap dancer and educator Brenna Kuhn with a simple, but powerful belief - dance should be a joyful, welcoming home for everyone. What began as a small, passionate effort in the Greater Austin/Central Texas community has grown into a nonprofit dedicated to inclusive arts education, wellness, and tap dance preservation. 

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In its early years, the Art Beat Foundation focused on community classes and performances that celebrated the spirit of tap dance and jazz music while building a supportive space for dancers of all ages and backgrounds. As the organization listened to families, seniors, and caregivers, a clear need emerged: accessible, high-quality dance programs for people who are often left out of traditional arts settings. In response, Art Beat developed its Adaptive Dance Program for youth with differing abilities, Dance for Parkinson's classes for people living with Parkinson's disease and their care partners, and Keep the Beat, a welcoming movement program for older adults and adults managing health challenges. These programs - offered free - quickly became the heart of the foundation's work. 

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At the same time, the Art Beat Foundation remained deeply committed to honoring the legacy of tap dance as a Black American art form. Through the Art Beat Tap Festival and the Leon Collins Preservation Project the foundation has brought together master artists, live jazz musicians, students, and audiences to celebrate rhythm, history, and community. These events connect the next generation of dancers with the stories, choreography, and musicality that shaped tap's rich tradition.

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Today, the Art Beat Foundation stands at the intersection of arts, access, and wellness - partnering with schools, senior communities, medical and support organizations, and families across Central Texas. With each class, performance, and festival, Art Beat continues its founding vision: to create a joyful, loving, and accepting community where every body can experience the freedom, connection, and confidence that dance inspires.