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Help Candace Bring Joy Through Dance! Support Spirit Rising
0% complete
$3,025 raised of
23 donations
Hi, it's Candace! Welcome to my fundraising page for Spirit Rising, a true calling and labor of love dedicated to creating joy through dance for adults and seniors living with health conditions. I'm so glad you're here, and I'd love to share with you how Spirit Rising came into being, how it's going so far, and how you can be an incredible part of what's to come.
Spirit Rising was conceived out of a strongly-felt desire to find an inroad back to dance that incorporated my background in neuro-rehabilitation. I did a web search and discovered Dance for PD, an organization based in Brooklyn that teaches evidence-based dance classes for people with Parkinson's. My antennae perked right up and I emailed them immediately, asking for more information on teacher training. The more I corresponded with them, and the more I deepened my involvement and commitment, the higher my spirits started to rise.
Fast forward almost two years later, and that single discovery has changed my life in ways that are too profound to even describe. I've volunteered, done extensive teacher training, and enjoyed performing charity work on behalf of people with Parkinson's throughout PA, NJ, and NY. The participants are incredible, one after another, and the health benefits they're getting out of dance have been too numerous to describe. One of my students put his experience into words beautifully and gave me permission to share:
"I have forged a wonderful bond with Candace, who has been a bright light of hope and inspiration. Her solid professionalism, care, and concern for the class members is a beacon. She indeed has a winning communicative ability as a teacher and thus tailors her instruction so everyone is active and participatory. Candace has helped to keep my eyes on the prize of health and well being via the transformative power of music and dance. I would wholeheartedly recommend her as a dance instructor. She is a veritable treasure." - John B.
Spirit Rising is my gift back to every amazing teacher, participant, peer, and person who has shepherded me towards this incredible calling: to cultivate dance, wellness, and most of all, JOY in the lives of everyone who shows up and moves in community, no matter their age, ability, or life story.
We are all made to move, and we are all meant to rise! Let's do it together for as long as we can. ♥️
About Spirit Rising:
- Spirit Rising officially launched in June 2025 as a for-profit business under LLC classification.
- I provided virtual classes on a weekly basis for the month of June, and also self-funded two in-person events over the summer that provided dance classes for people living with Parkinson's: a four week Workshop in partnership with Ahimsa Therapeutics of Langhorne PA, and a monthly Summer Dance Social Series hosted by the Blank Space Community Center in Yardley PA.
- Spirit Rising was recently awarded a Launch Grant from Dance for PD to help grow our dance classes in the community. This $2000 grant covers our fall and winter classes, and my goal is to match it with additional fundraising in order to keep our momentum going as we head into 2026.
I need your help to keep Spirit Rising strong, healthy, and thriving in its first year and beyond. Your generous donation will immediately help us afford:
- Staffing & Collaboration: hiring of additional teaching artists with quality experience, plus continuing education courses to help us keep our classes safe and accessible for all participants. Collaboration with like-minded artists, musicians, and organizations.
- Class and workshop development: covering teaching expenses, space rental fees, and equipment to keep classes safe for all participants (support bars, sturdy chairs, etc.). This will also help keep our class fees either low-cost or FREE for our participants!
- Community networking: covering expenses to provide demo classes free of charge to senior centers, assisted living facilities, rehab centers, and clinics in the community.
- Marketing: providing Spirit Rising with funds to make an impact at community fairs, foundation events, and medical/therapy conferences.
- Administrative: covering expenses related to technology and software, accounting, and travel.
You (or your business) will also be listed on our website, www.spiritrisingdancewellness.com, as one of our special donors!
Thanks again, and sending you love for helping us rise,
-Candace ♥️
Organizer
