Dancing Slugs in Paris

Thank you for visiting our fundraiser!
Great news! We have received a donation of $9,667 from UCSC’s Arts Division!!! Added to what we received from UCSC giving day, and the donations via GoFundMe, we have reached 62% of our fundraising goal  

This year 13 UC Santa Cruz Slugs have been invited to participate in an international dance conference, known as 'Camping', which is held every year in June at the Centre National de la Danse in Paris, France! Here we will work for two weeks with students and choreographers from nearly every continent in workshops and performances to expand our research. 

We need your help to raise the last $7000 by May 21st,  to fund tuition, housing and airfare costs for 13 students to attend Camping

All funds raised will be used to cover our students costs of round-trip airfare, housing expenses, and workshop fees. The students will be housed in an international hostel in the heart of Paris alongside the other schools attending Camping. CND is providing the housing accommodations which include meals (breakfast and lunch) served at the Centre before workshops begin each day.  

This environment will give our students an incredible experience as they are immersed in a new and dynamic community of artists. Here they will network, practice, and research with a vast collective of students in attendance, some of which will remain peers and collaborators beyond this conference. 

Each student will be attending two weeks of workshops with world renowned choreographers as well as have the chance to attend peer led classes with the other schools in attendance. UCSC will also have the opportunity to perform an original 30-minute piece that the students are working to develop this quarter. As the only research-based institute in attendance among conservatories and arts universities, we are hoping to represent this intersection of dance and research as we experience this in our own educations.

If you are unable to make a donation, you can help us by sharing this fundraiser with your friends and thank you for your support! 

To learn a little more about what our students study alongside dance, please read these short bios below:
•I’m Kat! I’m about to graduate from UCSC with a dual-degree in Feminist Studies and Dance. I’ve been dancing for 14 years now (wow) and I am so excited to keep exploring where dance can take me!

•Hi, I’m Sabrina, a fourth-year Human Biology major and Dance minor. I began training in Chinese cultural dancing when I was six, and from then on continued to expand to other styles in an effort to feed my hunger for artistic and athletic growth! I am so excited for Camping!!!

•My name is Kumi and I am a fourth year Music major at UCSC. I have been collaborating with dancers at UCSC for over a year and it has been an extremely fruitful artistic experience that has greatly expanded my creative horizons. I can’t wait to continue this growth at Camping and beyond.

•I’m Elizabeth and this is my third year at UC Santa Cruz as an environmental studies major. I’ve trained in dance for sixteen years and Camping will be my first opportunity to dance internationally. This trip can offer me new perspectives surrounding my relationship to dance.

•Hello, I’m Sienna and I am a first year graduate student in the Literature Department. I began dancing when I was four and it has continued followed me into every corner of my life, informing how I read, write, and walk. I’m so excited to engage in movement and archival research alongside other passionate student and faculty artists at Camping!

•Hi, I’m Cam! I’m a third year art and feminist studies major with a dance minor, and I’ve been dancing since I was three. Dance has always been a vital part of my artistic practice, and I can’t wait to see what Camping has to offer me creatively!

•Hi, I’m Lucia! I’m a second year Politics and Dance double major. I’ve been dancing as long as I can remember, and view Camping as an invaluable and inspirational addition to my education and jumping-off point for a potential dance career!

•Hi, I’m Destiny! I’m a third year psychology major and dance minor. I began my dance training in high school and ever since then my relationship to dance as grown stronger and stronger. This opportunity to participate in Camping will not only expose me to new perspectives, but I’ll be able to explore dance in a way I’ve never before.

•Hi, I’m Sophia, a third-year Psychology major, and dance minor. I’ve been dancing almost all my life, and I cannot wait to continue playing, exploring, and observing movement at Camping.

•Hello, I’m Leilani! I’m a third year Environmental studies/Biology Combined major. I started dancing 5 years ago and since then, it has been a fundamental aspect of my life! I’m so grateful to attend Camping as it will allow me to broaden my perspective and grow a deeper appreciation for the art form.

•Hello! I’m Deneka. I started dancing at my local community youth center when I was six years old and have only recently (over the past few years), started exploring different forms and motivations to dance. I’m currently a fourth your student at UCSC, studying Literature (with an emphasis on Creative Writing), and Theater. I’m excited to build my dialogue with dance, and art in general, at Camping amongst other creators on an international level!

•Hello! I’m Thomas. I am a graduate student studying genetic history of marine population at UCSC. Most of my dance experience have come from participating, learning and performing in local community and university in Santa Cruz. Dance helps me to learn more about my body, especially to connect with the unspoken history and the way of life of my ancestors. I am looking forward to listen and learn effective strategies in making dance more accessible to marginalized/minority group in this conference.

•Hi my name is Meg! I am a graduating senior with a dual-degree in Psychology and Dance. I began dancing in high school and never imagined I would have come this far! The impact of dance has been astronomical in my life and ultimately has guided me into pursuing this practice and research beyond college in the form of somatic-based therapy. Camping will be a great way to begin my post-grad work and I am so very grateful to have the opportunity to participate!