Badlands, a children’s play space that offered a nature inspired, interactive environment for learning through risk and play, has been closed since March of 2020.

The play space, located in Loehmann’s Plaza (Rockville/North Bethesda), recently announced a “pivot” that involves donating a massive space to CityDance School and Conservatory– a nonprofit dance institution dedicated to developing young dance artists and innovators.

Their full statement can be seen below:

​“The climate of the Covid19 Pandemic was devastating to our business; it forced our shut down resulting in the loss of memberships and staff.  Despite this, we never lost sight of our mission:

We are committed to growing a conscious community by challenging ourselves to embrace uncertainty with bold imagination and curiosity.

We are pleased to announce that one of the ways we will achieve this moving forward will be through collaboration with our new partners at CityDance.

CityDance School and Conservatory – www.citydance.net – is a nonprofit dance institution dedicated to developing the next generation of dance artists and innovators.

At their studios and community sites located across the national capital region, CityDance trains young dancers for professional careers, nurtures talent and achievement through dance, and works to advance the field of professional dance. Anchored in a belief that diversity advances excellence, CityDance works to create opportunities that promote equitable access to dance education and performance.

Through partnership, Badlands and CityDance will provide programming centered on the unique cultures, histories and voices of our communities, artists and students.”