Hello, and thank you, from my heart to yours, for taking a moment to read this!

I am Mirah Kellc Moriarty, Rodrigo Esteva's life partner and Co-Founding Director of DANCE MONKS (1999-present). I am writing to ask you to consider donating to help Rodrigo graduate from the University of the Arts with an MFA in Dance this summer!

As Rodrigo does not qualify for a Federal loan, I am reaching out to you with the hopes that our village of friends and family can help make this happen.

Over the last twenty years, he has been such a dedicated father, and this program has been a time for him to return to his lifelong practice from the seasoned perspective of a now 52-year-old dancer. He plans to teach at a University.

However, with the pressures of high-cost rents and food in the Bay Area, it has been challenging to have spaciousness for this needed time of reflection and growth. I would like to see that change for the last months of his studies so that he can immerse in the program with greater ease. Can you help?

Rodrigo began dancing in his homeland of Mexico, performing with the renowned (late) Gerardo Delgado at venues such as Bellas Artes, and then left his country to study in New York City with support from the FONCA (National Foundation for the Arts) of Mexico. He was soon invited to perform internationally with the renowned Sara Pearson/ Patrik Widrig Dance Theater (NYC) from 1994-2000 at renowned venues and festivals, including The Joyce Theater, The Kennedy Center for the Arts, Jacob's Pillow, Bates Dance Festival, and many more. In 1999, we started DANCE MONKS and have performed and taught together throughout the United States and Mexico, as well as in Peru, Canada, and, more recently, in Europe.

Rodrigo's discipline, dedication, and commitment to his practice are admirable. He is truly an example of resilience and perseverance through adversity. As an immigrant artist, Rodrigo's thesis is focused on reclaiming indigenous wisdom as a contemporary dancer. As a person of Nuu Savi descent, of the highlands of Oaxaca, this has been very meaningful for him personally but is also of considerable importance for the world at a time when we are reckoning with healing and decolonization. Dance is healing and transformational.

All of that is to say Rodrigo Esteva is profoundly worthy of your support, and I hope that you will consider offering whatever you can at this time.

The money you donate will go towards the following:

SPRING/SUMMER SEMESTER

1. TUITION: $6775** (The bill is higher than last summer.)

(This will cover the cost of his Summer Term only. He has already paid in full the rest of his tuition up until this point.)

2. HOUSING: $3,750

3. AIRFARE AND TRANSPORTATION: $2,000

(To/From Montpellier, France, where his program finishes)

4. FOOD: $2,500

TOTAL: $15,025

Transparency is important to us. 100% of the money will go towards Rodrigo's school-related expenses, as outlined above.

CHECK OUT RODRIGO ESTEVA'S DANCE WORK! Fire in the Mountain is a Site-specific dance film Directed and performed by Rodrigo Esteva and I and dedicated to our collaborator, Eric Koziol.

THANK YOU for your love, words of encouragement, and support!

With deep gratitude,

Mirah