Get Tommy to a NYC Joffrey summer dance intensive

Tommy has received a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School summer intensive in New York City this summer. He would like to attend two weeks of the intensive, where he would be taking classes from many different teachers and choreographers. He would learn from people who are working as professional dancers currently. The scholarship covers the tuition to the intensive but does not cover the room and board or transportation. We are trying to raise funds to allow him to take advantage of this opportunity. Below is what he wrote for a school scholarship program that may help as well (we have not heard back on this yet). We greatly appreciate any help you feel you can give.

I was just presented with the opportunity to attend the Joffrey Ballet summer dance intensive this summer in New York City. This is incredibly exciting for me as it is my hope to attend college for dance in New York City. This would be my first time in New York City and I would not only have the opportunity to take class from dance professionals who have careers in the area but also to immerse myself in the melting pot of cultures in the city. I would like to attend the Jazz and Contemporary intensive. This will challenge my techniques and artistic boundaries. I will get to work with multiple choreographers throughout the weeks, which will help me build my ability to adapt to different styles and continue to hone my ability to pick up choreography quickly, which is a very important skill in the dance industry.

Being able to add this experience to my resume would be priceless. The Joffrey Ballet School is considered one of the most prestigious dance schools in the world and is widely recognized among the dance community. I feel that I would grow in so many ways, not only as a dancer, but as a person in general. I would be on my own with peers and would learn valuable lessons about being in a community and continue to work on my time management skills. I would also learn to grow in my collaborative mindset. Everyone in the dance industry is on their own path and has their own ideas, meaning that you are never going to find someone who will perfectly agree with you. This will teach me to meet people in the middle which is immensely helpful for group choreography projects. My communication skills would also be tested at this intensive because in New York City, nothing stops for you. You have to be able to talk to people you have never met before without getting nervous, and you have to learn how to insert your own voice without getting overpowered.

I am particularly excited to participate in the jazz and contemporary intensive because I am able to fully express myself while also expanding on my technique. Jazz and contemporary are truly some of the most diverse styles in the dance world. There is no limit to them, meaning that they can go in any direction you wish. However, the similarity between them is that you still have to focus on your traditional ballet technique. This includes straight lines, perfectly placed arms, beautifully curved feet, etc. Ballet technique is the foundation of all modernized dance styles. This means that we should never differ too far from it as it is the backbone of today’s dance styles. I am very excited to have this opportunity to attend the Joffrey Ballet School’s summer intensive this year and would love your consideration to support me throughout this journey.