A Day of Dance 2015-2018
A Day of Dance for CURE International, 2016
A Day of Dance was an initiative I started in 2015, in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I was selected as one of CFF’s Finest that fall and needed to raise money in less than 6 weeks. My fast tract solution was to use what I knew-- dance.
In the first year, approximately 20 dancers joined me at the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet for a day of pay-as-you-will classes. I asked local teachers to each donate one hour to teaching a technique, on behalf of the organization. The result was a day of fun and learning while fundraising for CFF.
In year two, A Day of Dance supported CURE International. This is a cause near and dear to my heart as it is the organization through which I met my spouse! Taking the experience of our first event, we were able to spend much more time in planning. CURE was an incredible partner, sending a representative to explain the cause, Clubfoot Operations, and demonstrating to the the dancers how their efforts would help. In addition to taking classes from another wonderful group of teachers, the dancers had an opportunity to make cards for children in hospitals abroad. They also each received a CURE t-shirt to commemorate the event! Each teacher received a “Dance Educator” t-shirt that I designed.
Messiah University generously donated space for this event which enabled more area studios to send their dancers to participate. We raised 2x the funds raised during 2015’s event and financed the surgeries of 30 children.
In the final year of A Day of Dance, we supported Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), now Breakthrough T1D. My friend and colleague, Stacey Raab, who had volunteered for every year of this event was personally connected to this organization. Once again, we had a wonderful partnership with Breakthrough T1D. In addition to classes, students learned about Type 1 Diabetes from the mother of a dancer whose sibling had been diagnosed with T1D. Messiah University hosted the event. Water Colors Interior Design donated goods for teacher giftbags.
I knew very little about design when I created these events. In retrospect, I would have formatted the text on the posters a bit differently. My social media marketing skills also improved each year.
The entire process taught me that understanding the heart of the event is the most important component for success. It also prepared me to launch and direct the Messiah College Summer Dance Intensive 2017 & 2018.
Photo Credit: Hollis Healy
Photo Credit: Hollis Healy
Photo Credit: Hollis Healy
Card Station
Learning about the Ponseti Method for correcting Clubfoot
Stacey Raab and I, teaching for the 2nd year of Day of Dance
Rufus the bear is a tool for helping children to learn about T1D.
Registration Table
Choreography Students with Victoria Silva