84 and Ready for More!
Donation protected
“I’m not ready,” she said, “I’m not ready to give all this up”.
As we sat with Joy in the dance studio (all of us feeling the energy only the studio can bring to dancers), we realized that none of us are ready—the arts community, shouldn’t be ready to give all this up! The unique thing about Joy is she is currently 84 and still determined to bring dance to everyone! Rather than hanging up her dance shoes (as most 84 year olds would do), she is busy hustling to get approval to reopen her doors for the students who call her studio “home”.
You see, Joy started her business from the ground up with the vision that dance is for everyone. As a single, female business owner in the 70s, it wasn’t easy. However, she’s smart, savvy, hard-working, and determined and so began MacKinnon Dance Academy (in her garage!).
Her contributions to our lives and the community are innumerable. She was the first to bring Scottish Highland Dancing to Ventura County, and her award-winning dancers compete across the United States representing her school. In the late 70s, she started the Dance Teacher Alliance to work toward the common goal of bringing arts into the community (by this point, you might have guessed that the business had outgrown the garage). 44 years later, her studio is the center for Scottish Highland, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Bhangra, Polynesian Dance, Salsa, and Flamenco.
Her gifts go beyond dance. Those who know Joy, would agree that she is witty, charming, hilarious, energetic, and feisty! She is a BEST friend! Need someone with you to get a tattoo? She’ll go! Want her to marry you? She's ordained, so she will! Need someone in your room when you give birth? She’s there! All true and all a testament to the character of Joy and why we want to help!
She has given thousands of hours, awarded countless scholarships, and teamed with Interface to bring dance into the lives of children and adults who otherwise would not have experienced the JOY of dancing. Now, due to the current pandemic of COVID-19, she’s reaching into her retirement fund to keep the studio going, but it will take more. We are asking that if you know anyone associated with dance, with Joy, or whose lives have been touched through the arts or this story…. Please Donate.
If it doesn’t save the studio, your donation will save Joy.
Please see the link below to donate, and thank you for your generosity. #84yearsofjoy
Who are the organizers?
My name is Anna. I started dancing with Joy in 1981, but I set up this gofundme account in collaboration with my dance family. Our relationship with Joy has spanned over generations. She's our teacher, second mother, mentor, employer but most importantly our friend. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Joy MacKinnon. #84yearsofjoy
As we sat with Joy in the dance studio (all of us feeling the energy only the studio can bring to dancers), we realized that none of us are ready—the arts community, shouldn’t be ready to give all this up! The unique thing about Joy is she is currently 84 and still determined to bring dance to everyone! Rather than hanging up her dance shoes (as most 84 year olds would do), she is busy hustling to get approval to reopen her doors for the students who call her studio “home”.
You see, Joy started her business from the ground up with the vision that dance is for everyone. As a single, female business owner in the 70s, it wasn’t easy. However, she’s smart, savvy, hard-working, and determined and so began MacKinnon Dance Academy (in her garage!).
Her contributions to our lives and the community are innumerable. She was the first to bring Scottish Highland Dancing to Ventura County, and her award-winning dancers compete across the United States representing her school. In the late 70s, she started the Dance Teacher Alliance to work toward the common goal of bringing arts into the community (by this point, you might have guessed that the business had outgrown the garage). 44 years later, her studio is the center for Scottish Highland, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Bhangra, Polynesian Dance, Salsa, and Flamenco.
Her gifts go beyond dance. Those who know Joy, would agree that she is witty, charming, hilarious, energetic, and feisty! She is a BEST friend! Need someone with you to get a tattoo? She’ll go! Want her to marry you? She's ordained, so she will! Need someone in your room when you give birth? She’s there! All true and all a testament to the character of Joy and why we want to help!
She has given thousands of hours, awarded countless scholarships, and teamed with Interface to bring dance into the lives of children and adults who otherwise would not have experienced the JOY of dancing. Now, due to the current pandemic of COVID-19, she’s reaching into her retirement fund to keep the studio going, but it will take more. We are asking that if you know anyone associated with dance, with Joy, or whose lives have been touched through the arts or this story…. Please Donate.
If it doesn’t save the studio, your donation will save Joy.
Please see the link below to donate, and thank you for your generosity. #84yearsofjoy
Who are the organizers?
My name is Anna. I started dancing with Joy in 1981, but I set up this gofundme account in collaboration with my dance family. Our relationship with Joy has spanned over generations. She's our teacher, second mother, mentor, employer but most importantly our friend. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Joy MacKinnon. #84yearsofjoy
Organizer and beneficiary
Anna Reed Sanchez
Organizer
Oxnard, CA
Joy MacKinnon
Beneficiary