Connecticut Dance School Raises over $4,000 to Support Dance Therapy for Children with Cancer and Special Needs
FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT—May 1, 2011— The Connecticut Dance School held its first ever “Dance across America” dance-a-thon to support the Andréa Rizzo Foundation’s efforts to bring dance therapy to children with cancer and special needs this past week. The dancers raised over $4,000 by collecting pledges for the hours they danced throughout the week of April 25th through April 30th, selling t-shirts, and hosting a bake sale. The dance-a-thon culminated in a special day on April 30th, when the dance school offered extra classes, including Hula and Zumba—classes that go beyond the school’s usual offerings in ballet, jazz, and modern.
Students in ballet level 6 (ages 13-14), who come from Westport, Fairfield, and Weston, organized the event. Six of these students traveled into Manhattan to the Broadway Dance Center on Friday, April 29th, to attend the Andréa Rizzo Foundation’s VIP event for top fundraisers.
About the Connecticut Dance School
The Connecticut Dance School is a not-for-profit 301(c) (3) organization serving the state of Connecticut. The dance school offers a variety of classes including ballet, jazz, and modern for students ages 3 through adult. For more information about the Connecticut Dance School visit www.ctdanceschool.com or call 203.384.2492 or e-mail: ctdanceschool@aol.com
About the Andrea Rizzo Foundation
The Andréa Rizzo Foundation is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that supports dance therapy for children with cancer and special needs in pediatric hospitals and public schools. The foundation was started in memory of Andréa Rizzo, a young graduate student in dance therapy, who survived childhood cancer, but was tragically killed by a drunk driver. “Dance across America” is one of many fundraising efforts created by the Andréa Rizzo Foundation. For more information about the Andréa Rizzo Foundation visit http://dreasdream.org/.
Photo Caption:
Student organizers pose in their dance-a-thon shirts in front of a bulletin board advertising the dance-a-thon at the Connecticut Dance School. Back row from left to right: Sarah Swedberg (Fairfield resident), Madeleine Purcell (Weston resident), Colleen Sinclair (Fairfield resident), Rebecca Furth (Westport resident), Sophia Clarkin (Fairfield resident), and Olivia Paige (Fairfield resident). Front row from left to right: Molly Rigney (Fairfield resident) and Eliza Glovin (Fairfield resident).
