Help Rosebud Dance Studio Build a New Home

Hello, my name is Rosilyn Griffis. I am the owner of Rosebud’s Dance Studio in Burlington, NC. I started Rosebud’s with the help of other people in 2016, at the YMCA of Burlington. The goal of the studio was “Everyone Can Dance,” meaning we wanted affordable dance, so every child, regardless of their parents' financial status, could enjoy dance of all different styles. The concept came from my mother, Rosemary B. White, who would teach dance for Mr. Mayco Bigelow at North Park Community Center. My mother would also go to different lower-income residences and volunteer her time on Saturday mornings to teach the kids different styles of dance. Rosebud was one of my mother’s nicknames, and that is where the dance studio got its name.

The dance studio took a hit in 2019 when COVID struck, and the YMCA was forced to close and later only allowed YMCA members to enter during this pandemic. For a short time, I used a local friend's gym to practice and later used my garage and yard to hold dance practices. After a few friends suggested a studio, I would ride by the BMOC in Burlington and just look in the window; the dance studio was abandoned. I wanted the studio so bad! I watched it for a while, and it was even used for another non-profit building that was also closed due to the pandemic. I had to get this spot for my kids and even signed up to work the Greensboro Coliseum Non-Profit Program to work to be able to afford this studio. After a conversation with my husband and suggesting several ways to financially afford the studio, we went and talked to the owner and moved into the studio. With the kids majority going for free and paying the coaches, the coliseum shows started to decrease its events, so once again, we had to figure out a plan to keep the studio open for the kids. After doing two fundraisers and not getting big participation, working the coliseum but still needing extra to help with a few of the kids' uniforms, we decided to open up the studio and do work to it to rent it out on the weekends as a venue for parties, etc. We contacted the landlord for approval and got to work. We knocked down walls, built doors, put down floors, and painted. With still more work to do, we were able to go ahead and open back up so we could try to make a profit in the studio. We had put so much money in, we had to put a hold on additional changes and upgrades. A lot of disappointments and hard work came with the studio, but we managed to maintain the dance studio. The love of dance and people kept me going through many of the storms. I also started dancing for the elderly and some mentally challenged adults, and this brought so much joy. In January, the line dance wave really hit me, and I started line dancing classes for everyone. These classes grew bigger and bigger and became more than just dance classes; they became a family to everyone. Many testimonies and meeting some of the best people I’ve ever met. These people are also the reason for this GoFundMe account. With over 70 new dancers, we just became a family of love. We even perform for different organizations, and we enjoy our bond every Tuesday and Thursday for an hour and a half.

Just recently, at the beginning of May, we were advised that we were too loud with the music and taking up too much of the parking lot by a future tenant. Our landlord met with the future tenant and another tenant that was on the other side that has been occupying the space for less than 2 years to hear their complaints. The walls are very thin there; the buildings have been there since the early 1980s, and everyone can hear everything. I could hear both sides: one side drilling and the other side's music and kids practicing, but I never complained because I understood that I could hear everything with these very tiny walls. With the complaints, the landlord agreed with the other two parties and advised my studio could leave if I didn’t change my hours. With a recent rate increase of $600 extra dollars a month, changing our hours to fit everyone’s schedule except the family that lifted me up couldn’t be accepted. Also, suggesting we spend more money to change the look of our studio/center by adding big soundproof wall hangers. After talking with the manager, he agreed and defended the situation and actually helped us stay at our times. We were grateful but still bothered with the landlord's decision to just let us go. My dance family suggested building our own studio. That we could still have low to no-cost dance for the kids, have mental health and elderly dance, and of course, line dancing for everyone. Entertain and bring awareness to our community.

This GoFundMe is a building fund. Our goal is to raise money to build our own community dance center, host special events, and continue to advocate for the community. Any amount is appreciated. Our goal is to raise money for a year to continue to build and grow and give so many an outlet to come and have a great time. To come together for each other, laugh, dance, and just continue to grow our community. Please consider giving anything, and we appreciate EVERYTHING.

Thank you in advance.

Rosilyn Griffis

Rosebud Dance Studio