Rebuild Cape Breton's Dance Studios

This is a campaign to raise funds to support and repair the following 5 dance studios in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia:

- Cape Breton School of the Arts (Director: Susan Gallop)
- Northside Dance Unlimited (Director: Kim Roper) 
- D&R Dance Ltd. (Director: Denise Jardine)
- Lucy Wintermans School of Dance (Director: Lucy  Wintermans)
- Dance Sync (Director: Angela Gratton)

My name is Thomas Colford and I grew up in Cape Breton dancing at Cape Breton School of the Arts and Northside Dance Unlimited. In 2012 I moved to Toronto to purse a professional career in acting and dance. I've been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work with musical artists such as: Janet Jackson, Shawn Mendes, and Imagine Dragons. I've also worked in film and television as an Actor on Centre Stage: En Pointe, and Family Channel/Disney Channel's Backstage.

I would 100% credit where I am today to the values instilled in me by my teachers, mentors and family growing up- namely my work ethic. Due to this, ever since moving away it has been a priority of mine to stay connected with, and support, my community in Cape Breton.

Every year I make a point of going home to work with the students at the dance studios in Cape Breton. Unfortunately, the physical conditions of these studios are rapidly declining. The studio owners have done everything they can to maintain the buildings, however, due to difficult economic conditions, they have already maxed out the resources available to them. 

In communities like mine, arts education programs:
- keep kids out of trouble
- give kids a safe environment to foster passion
- provide kids with an escape  that many need, not unlike I did growing up there.

I cannot stand by and let these programs dissapear without doing everything I can to help save them. 

I will use the funds raised from this campaign, and the full extent of my own resources, to produce a benefit show entirely cast with Cape Breton dancers. The goal of this show is to raise $20,000-$30,000; all of which will go towards improving the studios.  It will provide a one of a kind learning opportunity for the dancers in the area. Not only will they be pushed as artists, they will be shown the power of dance first hand, by using their talents to impact their community in a powerfully positive way, from their own efforts.

Any and every amount of contribution is greatly appreciated by myself and the community.

Thank you and all the best,

Thomas L. Colford 

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The Team behind this campaign:

Thomas L. Colford - Creative Director
Nicole Rosove - Stage Manager/ Marketing Consultant
Aaron Aquino - Rehearsal Director
Lesley MacLean - Assistant to the Creative Director


Space and resources graciously provided by The Highland Arts Theatre and The Underground Dance Centre.