A Year Redefining The Strong Woman
Donation protected
To explain further....
I've recently been accepted into a professional full-time training program in Chicago at Aloft Circus Arts to create and perform a Strong Woman Act.
Currently there are not many, if any, Strong Woman Acts happening in the performance arts. With knowing that, I am very excited and feel honored to be able to be a first in creating an act different than any other before that is not singularly influenced or based around the stereotypical masculine-dominated view of strength (ie: physical/appearance oriented, no femininity and generally no emotional vulnerability)
The sport of strength as a whole is still very masculine-driven and I want to be a part of the movement towards a more inclusive space and conceptual framework around being "Strong." What could happen if we could all see, understand and accept every aspect of strength as its own quality?
(Above: Behind the scenes of my first Strong Woman Act at Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville, NC)
So! How do we promote and reclaim strength?
Physical, emotional, mental, in vulnerability, in relationships and holding boundaries, in our resilience, in truth, in taking up space and speaking up, in owning our actions and consequences that come from them?
This is what I will be working passionately on with the help of the director and my coaches of the program. Incorporating different modalities of performance art like spoken word, acrobatics, dance and of course...lifting heavy things! A whole new concept of a Strong Woman Act is going to be created, one that integrates, examines and celebrates all aspects of the ways we can be and already are strong outside of the more commonly accepted definition. But I need your help....
My Situation
This opportunity was given to me quickly and I have had under three months to plan and prepare for this huge step and my work and savings alone will not get me there. The program starts in September, and i've been scrambling to figure out how to logistically cover at least a whole year of training and production. It will not happen without some form of outside financial help.....
Being as this program is classified as an "alternative education", there are no financial aid programs to assist with the cost of going. Though I'm prepared to take that on and I've looked into grants and loans to get me through a year of living like this, I want to reach out to you all, my community and larger, for support on this project.
These funds will go specifically to the program training, equipment and creation of the act, and help cover the very basic needs of living while in Chicago. I will be doing part-time work continuing some of my qEEG and neurofeedback reports remotely while training, however these funds will help give that space to focus on the act, training and reaching out to networks in town already empowering women.
Why be strong? A few thoughts...
Once we are able to see and own our power, everything can change.
We settle less, we are able to make choices based off our own needs vs what society tells us. We are able to create and maintain healthy relationships with firstly ourselves and then with friends, partners, co-workers and the community as a whole.
We are able to stand up for justice and hold each other lovingly accountable to our actions and words. We are less influenced by those who want to distract us or shame us or belittle our experiences as women.
We STILL live in a world where women tear other women down. Where we are often seen valued for our relationship to and with males.
We STILL live in a world where we are constantly told what to be, look like, speak like, feel like. To be softer, quieter.
We are STILL told by so many outlets to be smaller; physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially.
We need to take up space to create the individual and social/cultural/political changes needed, and I believe this is a way to continue that push that movement and conversation on a larger scale. I believe this act can be one part of the bigger shift that needs to take place.
(Above: Saturday training at home gym Strength Ratio. Photo by Robb Leahy)
How You Can Help!
"Be gentle with each other so we can be dangerous together."
I know it takes a village to do anything significant on a large scale, and I am already extremely grateful to those who have already helped me with this journey. It's not an easy thing to ask for help, but it's another lesson in strength I'm still learning!
Any donation in any amount helps significantly and is appreciated! It's a wild, new and sometimes nervous process to put myself out there and ask for help to make a vision come true, and anything in return, even sharing my project with others means so much to me, truly. No dollar goes unused towards making this happen! Every donor will get a personalized thank you from me!
Donations
Your donations will be the lifeblood that allows me to make this project and Strong Woman Act a reality.
If you find any of this to resonate with you, if want to see these types of changes, or if you simply want to support the continuation and spread of performance circus arts (because lets be honest, it's pretty amazing!) please consider donating anything you can.
Sharing
If you want to support but can't offer any financial help, sharing this page is the best next step! Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat? Anything. If you know of anyone who would be excited to hear about a project like this, send them my way!
Also, please share even if you can donate! The wider the reach of this project, the better!
Sponsorship
If you're a business owner, I'm also looking for sponsors! Please contact me directly if this is something you would be interested in doing! Anything from financial support to training equipment is needed and your business name will be used in all social media promotions.
Since it takes a village...
Huge huge huge thank you to the talented Robb Leahy for donating his time, artistic eye and video skills to this project as well as for making me look not at nervous as I felt talking to a camera! Find more of his work at www.robbleahy.com - @rleahy_creative (Instagram)
Thank you to those friends and mentors who have encouraged me through applying, auditioning and now to putting myself out there to the world at large to ask for help and support.
Thank you all in advance to you all for giving this project consideration and your time!
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!
Your Strong Woman,
Melissa Allen
For more information on the training program please visit: https://www.aloftloft.com/full-time-training-program
I've recently been accepted into a professional full-time training program in Chicago at Aloft Circus Arts to create and perform a Strong Woman Act.
Currently there are not many, if any, Strong Woman Acts happening in the performance arts. With knowing that, I am very excited and feel honored to be able to be a first in creating an act different than any other before that is not singularly influenced or based around the stereotypical masculine-dominated view of strength (ie: physical/appearance oriented, no femininity and generally no emotional vulnerability)
The sport of strength as a whole is still very masculine-driven and I want to be a part of the movement towards a more inclusive space and conceptual framework around being "Strong." What could happen if we could all see, understand and accept every aspect of strength as its own quality?
(Above: Behind the scenes of my first Strong Woman Act at Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville, NC)
So! How do we promote and reclaim strength?
Physical, emotional, mental, in vulnerability, in relationships and holding boundaries, in our resilience, in truth, in taking up space and speaking up, in owning our actions and consequences that come from them?
This is what I will be working passionately on with the help of the director and my coaches of the program. Incorporating different modalities of performance art like spoken word, acrobatics, dance and of course...lifting heavy things! A whole new concept of a Strong Woman Act is going to be created, one that integrates, examines and celebrates all aspects of the ways we can be and already are strong outside of the more commonly accepted definition. But I need your help....
My Situation
This opportunity was given to me quickly and I have had under three months to plan and prepare for this huge step and my work and savings alone will not get me there. The program starts in September, and i've been scrambling to figure out how to logistically cover at least a whole year of training and production. It will not happen without some form of outside financial help.....
Being as this program is classified as an "alternative education", there are no financial aid programs to assist with the cost of going. Though I'm prepared to take that on and I've looked into grants and loans to get me through a year of living like this, I want to reach out to you all, my community and larger, for support on this project.
These funds will go specifically to the program training, equipment and creation of the act, and help cover the very basic needs of living while in Chicago. I will be doing part-time work continuing some of my qEEG and neurofeedback reports remotely while training, however these funds will help give that space to focus on the act, training and reaching out to networks in town already empowering women.
Why be strong? A few thoughts...
Once we are able to see and own our power, everything can change.
We settle less, we are able to make choices based off our own needs vs what society tells us. We are able to create and maintain healthy relationships with firstly ourselves and then with friends, partners, co-workers and the community as a whole.
We are able to stand up for justice and hold each other lovingly accountable to our actions and words. We are less influenced by those who want to distract us or shame us or belittle our experiences as women.
We STILL live in a world where women tear other women down. Where we are often seen valued for our relationship to and with males.
We STILL live in a world where we are constantly told what to be, look like, speak like, feel like. To be softer, quieter.
We are STILL told by so many outlets to be smaller; physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially.
We need to take up space to create the individual and social/cultural/political changes needed, and I believe this is a way to continue that push that movement and conversation on a larger scale. I believe this act can be one part of the bigger shift that needs to take place.
(Above: Saturday training at home gym Strength Ratio. Photo by Robb Leahy)How You Can Help!
"Be gentle with each other so we can be dangerous together."
I know it takes a village to do anything significant on a large scale, and I am already extremely grateful to those who have already helped me with this journey. It's not an easy thing to ask for help, but it's another lesson in strength I'm still learning!
Any donation in any amount helps significantly and is appreciated! It's a wild, new and sometimes nervous process to put myself out there and ask for help to make a vision come true, and anything in return, even sharing my project with others means so much to me, truly. No dollar goes unused towards making this happen! Every donor will get a personalized thank you from me!
Donations
Your donations will be the lifeblood that allows me to make this project and Strong Woman Act a reality.
If you find any of this to resonate with you, if want to see these types of changes, or if you simply want to support the continuation and spread of performance circus arts (because lets be honest, it's pretty amazing!) please consider donating anything you can.
Sharing
If you want to support but can't offer any financial help, sharing this page is the best next step! Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat? Anything. If you know of anyone who would be excited to hear about a project like this, send them my way!
Also, please share even if you can donate! The wider the reach of this project, the better!
Sponsorship
If you're a business owner, I'm also looking for sponsors! Please contact me directly if this is something you would be interested in doing! Anything from financial support to training equipment is needed and your business name will be used in all social media promotions.
Since it takes a village...
Huge huge huge thank you to the talented Robb Leahy for donating his time, artistic eye and video skills to this project as well as for making me look not at nervous as I felt talking to a camera! Find more of his work at www.robbleahy.com - @rleahy_creative (Instagram)
Thank you to those friends and mentors who have encouraged me through applying, auditioning and now to putting myself out there to the world at large to ask for help and support.
Thank you all in advance to you all for giving this project consideration and your time!
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!
Your Strong Woman,
Melissa Allen
For more information on the training program please visit: https://www.aloftloft.com/full-time-training-program
Organizer
Melissa Allen
Organizer
Asheville, NC
