I so glad to be able to let you know about a just-launched charity effort to benefit the dance community, specifically dance studios – The Love of Dance Challenge.  As we all know, the COVID-19 crisis has devastated the dance community, especially studios — which are the foundation of our training, and create a springboard for the art. Like so many in our community, studio owners are facing financial challenges, and many are facing the reality of potentially closing their  doors for good.

The Love of Dance Challenge is the brainchild of Kaycee Cope Jones and Bri Zborowski, co-founders and co-owners of Apolla Performance Footwear. Here’s how it works:
-Donations are being given by industry leaders — each donor then will “challenge” three more friends / colleagues to also donate, all for the love of dance. (Think of the Water Bucket Challenge for just dance!)
-Anyone can enter to win experiences that they may never have again – with just a starting donation of $10, you can choose which prize(s) you will be entered to win. You can also donate cash, if you don’t want to enter to win anything. All donations / proceeds go towards helping dance studios survive this crisis, and allow the dance world to come together for the Love of Dance Challenge.
-Dance studios from all over the world can apply to be considered for a monetary gift raised by this effort. All applicants will be vetted thoroughly and are required to complete the StEPS 2020 Initiative (see below).  A lottery then selects the qualified applicants who will receive the financial gift.

ALL monies raised goes completely to dance studios, to help them survive and keep going.

The StEPS 2020 Initiative is a major part of this Challenge:
It stands for Studios for Equity, Prevention, and Science. StEPS is a brief online course that involves education for studio owners in:
1) Racism in Dance

2) Sexual Abuse Awareness, Prevention, and Response

3) Bringing Dance Science to the Studio4) Gender, Inclusion and Integration in Dance
Further information can be found here.

I hope everyone gets involved with this wonderful effort, and passes it on to as many dance colleagues as you can. I am so proud to be involved in it (as part of #3 above — Bringing Dance Science to the Studio) –and we can all be proud of becoming part of this industry-wide effort to help our hurting dance world.

Thank you –with Love– Jan Dunn, Editor, Dance Wellness