Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive
Donation protected
Hey there! so this year I've been given a most generous oppurtunity . I was accepted into Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Summer Intensive in New York for 6 weeks on scholarship, and I'm VERY EXCITED! I'll be living in the Fordham University dorms and taking a range of different dance classes from Martha Graham based modern to learning the companies own repertoire 4-6 hours a day.
$4000-Living Expenses(food, toiletries, spending money) for 6 weeks in NY
$500 -Plane ticket
Background:
So I started technically training three years ago at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, shortly after getting accepted at TU Dance Center. This past three years has been great and I have learned a ton in a short amount of time. From Hip Hop to Ballet, I try and mesh a little bit of everything as all dance has a foundation in movement, reagrdless of genre. This will be my first summer intensive and being that most dancers in my position have been dancing much longer than me, it's really humbling to be given an oppurtunity to further my training in another professional setting.
Like I said, I was accpeted into the summer program on scholarship, and you would think that would be enough to get me to New York BUT in March my mom became very sick and was in the hospital for 4 weeks dealing with 3 auto immune conditions only to be re admitted for pneumonia in both lungs. She is slowly getting better -- although she will struggle with these conditions indefinitely-- but the cost of her her medications and hosptial bills, would almost make us have to choose between getting me there and keeping her the help she needs. Regardless of all obstacles she has vowed to get me there and I couldn't ask for a stronger parent.
Any donation size would be greatly appreaciated, as this is only the beginning to a long road of creation I have in store. As I mentioned, I belive all dance has a foundation in movement rather than label or aesthetic. We are all dancers at heart just on a different range of connectedness with that expression. This is why I like to share this gift of expression with other teen boys specifcally to feel comfortable in whatever creative facet they choose whether it be dance or not. One of my goals as a dancer is to help lift the negative connoation associated with dance and men. When athleticism and performance collaborate the athletic part is sometimes forgotten and just as much as I enjoy bringing dance to people I'm hoping they will see both sides. Thank you and good vibes!
$4000-Living Expenses(food, toiletries, spending money) for 6 weeks in NY
$500 -Plane ticket
Background:
So I started technically training three years ago at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, shortly after getting accepted at TU Dance Center. This past three years has been great and I have learned a ton in a short amount of time. From Hip Hop to Ballet, I try and mesh a little bit of everything as all dance has a foundation in movement, reagrdless of genre. This will be my first summer intensive and being that most dancers in my position have been dancing much longer than me, it's really humbling to be given an oppurtunity to further my training in another professional setting.
Like I said, I was accpeted into the summer program on scholarship, and you would think that would be enough to get me to New York BUT in March my mom became very sick and was in the hospital for 4 weeks dealing with 3 auto immune conditions only to be re admitted for pneumonia in both lungs. She is slowly getting better -- although she will struggle with these conditions indefinitely-- but the cost of her her medications and hosptial bills, would almost make us have to choose between getting me there and keeping her the help she needs. Regardless of all obstacles she has vowed to get me there and I couldn't ask for a stronger parent.
Any donation size would be greatly appreaciated, as this is only the beginning to a long road of creation I have in store. As I mentioned, I belive all dance has a foundation in movement rather than label or aesthetic. We are all dancers at heart just on a different range of connectedness with that expression. This is why I like to share this gift of expression with other teen boys specifcally to feel comfortable in whatever creative facet they choose whether it be dance or not. One of my goals as a dancer is to help lift the negative connoation associated with dance and men. When athleticism and performance collaborate the athletic part is sometimes forgotten and just as much as I enjoy bringing dance to people I'm hoping they will see both sides. Thank you and good vibes!
Organizer
Canaan Mattson
Organizer
St. Paul, MN
