Don't let this be our Last Dance with Ammena

Ammena Dance Company was founded in 2004 by the lovely and talented Lise -Anne Talhami.  Her dream was to bring the community together through dance. Ammena Dance Company was founded on two principles; atmosphere and attitude. Ammena is a home away from home and a second family for the dancers. More importantly, Ammena is inclusive as no matter what age, gender, or size you are or previous dance experience you may not have, you are welcomed with open arms. 

As we prepare for our 14th annual "An Explosion of World Dance and Music"  dance show, we do so with heavy hearts. The studio that has accepted us for who we are and provided us with a place to be ourselves and be loved for it is at risk of becoming a COVID casualty.  Also this will be the first year that we are unable to have a live audience and will be streaming it online. We will miss hearing all your cheering with all of our hearts. 

There are countless stories from women whose lives have changed by joining Ammena Dance Company. Here is mine:
 
I am someone who has always struggled to feel like I belong somewhere. As a child of divorce I grew up having a hard time fitting in and feeling comfortable in my surroundings. I said no to a lot of things for fear of feeling out of place or because I didn't know anyone else doing it . I had seen pictures of acquaintances on Facebook who were dancing with this company and I wished I could too. My only dance experience was taking ballet when I was young, so I thought that surely I can't go join this studio. I walked up to the door of Ammena Dance Company three separate times and would turn around, scared of the unknown. Through the love of a good man (who coincidentally became my husband) and his "gentle" nudge to go try dance I went to my first dance class in 2015. I was overcome by Lise-Anne's gentle nature - aren't dance teachers supposed to yell at you and tell you what you are doing wrong? I felt comfortable, I felt like I can do this. 

Since that day I have never looked back. I have met some of the most amazing people and made some amazing friends. I feel like I am at home when I am at the studio and I can be myself. On top of all of this, dancing with Ammena Dance Company has given me the power to believe in myself. Countless times, Lise-Anne will show us the choreography we are about to learn and I catch myself thinking I can't do that, that is like real dance choreography. But time and time again, I learn it and I perform it. And the belief in myself and my confidence in what I can achieve only grows more and more. 

I cannot imagine my life without this studio. Ask anyone who knows me, Ammena has changed my life and helped me become a better person. You can dance anywhere, maybe not with the same diversity of classes as Ammena Dance Company offers, but there are other dance classes and studios. But you will never find another Lise-Anne, who is the heart and soul of this amazing small business. I am not letting my second home close without a fight. 

Please help me to save this amazing woman's small business and so many people's second homes by donating whatever you can afford. Donations will go to support Lise-Anne with costs in running the studio over the winter months (lease and utilities) and help cover costs (rental of the theatre, live feed streaming) to run our annual dance show in March. Once this campaign closes I will collect the funds from GoFundMe and will present a cheque to Lise-Anne. 

Thank you. 
xoxo
Taunya