Sincerely By Leila Henry

About Leila Henry
I am a dancer, choreographer and dance teacher from Chicago, Illinois. I have been dancing for 15 years, and I received my BFA in dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was during my time in college where I discovered a passion for choreography, and I have been cultivating my artistic voice ever since. I have created several stage pieces and dance concept videos, and I can't wait to continue my artistic journey.

The GoFundMe Goal
My goal is to raise $15,000 to create my latest video project called, "SINcerely, By Leila Henry."

About the Project
In a society with so much tension and turmoil, as a momentary getaway, I will bring elements of fantasy, humor and playfulness into people’s lives through my video series. It will be a series of seven videos, and each video will be based on one of the “Seven Deadly Sins.” I was inspired by a humorous, short concept video I created last fall called, "No Gluts, No Glory." that I created last fall. The piece follows three quirky and gluttonous characters fighting over a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  "No Gluts, No Glory" will represent "gluttony" and I am in the process of creating six more videos illustrating the rest of the sins (lust, envy, sloth, pride, wrath, and greed). 

 Even though the series is based on what people deem “evil,” I want viewers to take two minutes of their day to laugh and think, “I’ve definitely been there before,” which is meant to spark a conversation. People connect to stories they can relate to, and "SINcerely, By Leila Henry" will explore a series of relatable situations most of us have experienced. Through dramatic fantasy, vivid imagery, and storytelling, SINcerely will actively spur the imagination.

Behind the Scenes 
Have you ever watched a fascinating film and wondered what the creative process was like? In addition to creating the six concept videos, I will also document the entire process from rehearsals to the video shoots. The documentary component will also include short interviews with my dancers and me, talking about our experiences. My goal is to motivate and encourage aspiring dancers and choreographers by giving them a first-hand look into my artistic process. This will allow viewers to have a more intimate, behind-the-scenes peek at what it takes to put a creative video together.

I am working with about 50 dancers and a strong crew of video professionals. We have been working nonstop for seven months, and plan to finish by the fall/winter of 2016/2017.

Personal Goal
As an emerging choreographer, I am in the process of finding new, bigger ways to express myself as an artist. Sincerely will be my largest project so far, and I am hoping to use this project to introduce my work to audiences in Chicago and beyond. I am extremely passionate and excited about creating this series, and with your contributions, I will be able to make this dream come true!

How Will Your Donations Help?
Your donations will help pay for cinematographers, rehearsal space, shooting locations, video equipment rentals, costumes, and props.

Every amount is greatly appreciated, and will help make the series as strong and impactful as possible. Thank you for your support!