About Ballroom Barks
"Changing lives, one dance at a time."
Our Mission
Ballroom Barks Inc. supports animal welfare through care and rescue while providing affordable housing opportunities where pets and the people who depend on them can remain together.
Our Vision
We envision communities where financial hardship never forces individuals to choose between safe, affordable housing and the animals who provide them with therapeutic support, companionship, comfort, and care. Ballroom Barks Inc. seeks to create a future in which people and their animals can live together with dignity, stability, and a shared sense of belonging.
Ballroom Barks
Animal Welfare & Housing Advocacy
Where Elegance Meets Compassion
Ballroom Barks was born from a simple yet powerful idea: that the grace, discipline, and community spirit of ballroom dance could move hearts — and move mountains for animals in need.
Founded in 2012, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization brings together dance enthusiasts, animal lovers, and community advocates across New York, New York.
Bonnie Diaz
Ballroom Dance Professional & Animal Advocate
Bonnie Diaz
Bonnie Diaz is a renowned ballroom dance professional, author, and passionate animal welfare champion. Uniting her lifelong dedication to the art of dance with a profound love for rescue animals, Bonnie founded Ballroom Barks to harness the energy and generosity of the dance community for a higher purpose.
Her vision brought together dancers, philanthropists, and pet advocates to build a movement that not only rescues vulnerable animals and supports essential veterinary care, but also creates sustainable, pet-inclusive affordable housing solutions.
"When we combine passion with purpose, extraordinary things happen. Ballroom Barks is proof that art and empathy together can protect our animals, preserve families, and transform entire communities."
— Bonnie Diaz, Founder of Ballroom Barks
Our Pillars of Impact
Animal Rescue & Care
Rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing essential veterinary care for vulnerable animals until they find loving forever homes.
Pet-Friendly Housing
Advocating for affordable housing policies that allow families and pet owners to stay together without surrender.
Community & Events
Uniting New York through fundraising galas, volunteer outreach, and educational programming.
Dance That Saves Lives
Every gala, showcase, and community event we host serves a deeper purpose: to raise vital funds and awareness for animals in need while celebrating the community that makes our mission possible.
Through elegant fundraising events, hands-on rescue support, and tireless housing advocacy, Ballroom Barks transforms the joy of dance into tangible, life-changing outcomes for animals and the families who love them.
Rescue & Rehabilitation
Housing Advocacy
Dance Fundraising
Community Outreach
Join Us in Saving Lives
Every gesture of support helps us rescue more animals, keep more families together, and bring more compassion to our community.