Belly Dance for EVERY Body at BLC
Donation protected
My name is Shannon Townsend (aka Shanaz Bahara) , and I am a plus sized Belly Dancer. That's right, I am fat and fit, and I love my life! I direct a dance troupe called Geek Slink, run workshops and classes at several conventions and conferences, and I teach a class called 'Belly Dance for EVERY Body' designed to help people in all bodies find comfort and joy through safe and strong movement rooted in Belly Dance. And I have been invited to be a speaker at the 2015 Body Love Conference!
(learn more about me at http://baharabellydance.weebly.com/)
When I initially applied for the B.L.C., it was in the heart of winter and I had planned to have some time to get finances together. But the conference has had such insanely huge interest that they have had to restructure to better reflect growth and attendance, and thus the speaker notifications were placed on temporary hold. I received notification on March 10th that I was accepted as a presenter but was not sent final confirmation or solidified plans until April 1st. This is very exciting for me, and I am looking very forward to bringing Belly Dance for EVERY Body to the conference. But I need help to do so with the short notice!
The conference is June 6, 2015. In the month of June, I am guesting at another event that I cannot talk about yet, and also attending a large Belly Dance conference in Chicago to continue my education as a performer and instructor (and also performing). Because of this, my finances are going to be very tight. The B.L.C. is covering my admission to the conference, but unlike the anime or geek centric cons I have been a guest for over the years, they do not cover travel, room and board, or living expenses during the conference. But the message of body acceptance and empowerment is so important to me that I cannot imagine saying no to this opportunity. I want people to feel the amazing self-confidence and assurance that Belly Dance has brought to me in the 11 years I have been dancing. I want people to shimmy and sway with me as a group, and feel the wonder of moving their bodies with the goal of fun and radical self-acceptance! Belly Dance is magic. I want to share that magic with people at the B.L.C.!
And so friends, I am looking to raise $1000. What will this cover?
-Flight to and from the conference in Tucson, AZ
-Room and board at the conference
-Food and general living expenses
-Promotional materials to bring to the conference
(business cards, handouts and literature, etc.)
I think that this is a very reachable goal, and any assistance that you can offer would be wonderful. I would accept this with grace and thanks. If you donate, here's what I can do for ya!
-You will receive a personal thank you on my website and Facebook
-You will receive an "I Believe In Belly Dance for EVERY Body!" sticker for your social media site.
-If you donate $25 and you are local, you can attend one of my Geek Slink sessions for free. This is 6 weeks worth of classes. *must be local to Minneapolis*
-Donors who donate over $50 will get access to a set of short Belly Dance instruction vids filmed by me, to help you get into the spirit of Belly Dance for EVERY Body!
-Anyone who donates over $100 will be given a 2 hour private instruction lesson. If you live in the twin cities, this can be a face to face booking. If you live outside of the area, this will be done on Skype!
Thank you so much for your generosity. Your donation will help people discover that all sizes and shapes of individual are beautiful and powerful, and capable of so much more than anyone can imagine!
-Shannon Townsend
*Photo credits to Ilessthanthree Photography and Nathaniel England
(learn more about me at http://baharabellydance.weebly.com/)
When I initially applied for the B.L.C., it was in the heart of winter and I had planned to have some time to get finances together. But the conference has had such insanely huge interest that they have had to restructure to better reflect growth and attendance, and thus the speaker notifications were placed on temporary hold. I received notification on March 10th that I was accepted as a presenter but was not sent final confirmation or solidified plans until April 1st. This is very exciting for me, and I am looking very forward to bringing Belly Dance for EVERY Body to the conference. But I need help to do so with the short notice!
The conference is June 6, 2015. In the month of June, I am guesting at another event that I cannot talk about yet, and also attending a large Belly Dance conference in Chicago to continue my education as a performer and instructor (and also performing). Because of this, my finances are going to be very tight. The B.L.C. is covering my admission to the conference, but unlike the anime or geek centric cons I have been a guest for over the years, they do not cover travel, room and board, or living expenses during the conference. But the message of body acceptance and empowerment is so important to me that I cannot imagine saying no to this opportunity. I want people to feel the amazing self-confidence and assurance that Belly Dance has brought to me in the 11 years I have been dancing. I want people to shimmy and sway with me as a group, and feel the wonder of moving their bodies with the goal of fun and radical self-acceptance! Belly Dance is magic. I want to share that magic with people at the B.L.C.!
And so friends, I am looking to raise $1000. What will this cover?
-Flight to and from the conference in Tucson, AZ
-Room and board at the conference
-Food and general living expenses
-Promotional materials to bring to the conference
(business cards, handouts and literature, etc.)
I think that this is a very reachable goal, and any assistance that you can offer would be wonderful. I would accept this with grace and thanks. If you donate, here's what I can do for ya!
-You will receive a personal thank you on my website and Facebook
-You will receive an "I Believe In Belly Dance for EVERY Body!" sticker for your social media site.
-If you donate $25 and you are local, you can attend one of my Geek Slink sessions for free. This is 6 weeks worth of classes. *must be local to Minneapolis*
-Donors who donate over $50 will get access to a set of short Belly Dance instruction vids filmed by me, to help you get into the spirit of Belly Dance for EVERY Body!
-Anyone who donates over $100 will be given a 2 hour private instruction lesson. If you live in the twin cities, this can be a face to face booking. If you live outside of the area, this will be done on Skype!
Thank you so much for your generosity. Your donation will help people discover that all sizes and shapes of individual are beautiful and powerful, and capable of so much more than anyone can imagine!
-Shannon Townsend
*Photo credits to Ilessthanthree Photography and Nathaniel England
Organizer
Shannon Townsend
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
