Young dancers from Sylvan’s Performing Arts and Rhythm Centre is fundraising for a once in a life time experience in New York.
Competitive dancers from Sylvan’s Performing Arts and Rhythm Centre (SPARC) have booked a trip to New York City for next summer to participate in the Dance the World program.
The program gives the dancers the unique opportunity to dance in Times Square and on a Broadway stage.
“We are all booked to go for next July, but New York is expensive,” said Mandy Walter.
To begin the fundraising process, SPARC held a yard sale and barbecue on July 28 and 29.
Locals came out to find various goodies and treasures - all donated by the families attending the program, while some of the dancers set up to sell lemonade and popcorn.
Parents also manned the barbecue and handled the money
“The dads have been great, we owe them a lot for all the help they have given us,” Walter said.
The yard sale and barbecue is just one of the fundraisers the group has planned. With a year left before the trip, the dancers at SPARC still have time to pay their way.
The next fundraiser for the group will be a bottle drive in September, though Walter says she is already collecting bottles if anyone has some they would like to donate.
The bottle drive is planned for Sept. 7, and collecting early will make the day pass easier and give everyone time to collect and organize, according to Walter.
“The dancers are really excited, this is really just an amazing experience and opportunity for them.”
The trip to New York City will include a master class with Dancing with the Stars performer Jordan Fisher. The dancers will also participate in a Disney on Broadway Movement & Music Workshop, where they will learn songs and choreography from a Disney on Broadway show.
They will also get to dance in Times Square in a special costume provided by the program, complete with special red sequin dance sneakers.
“We’ll also get to do all the fun New York things like take in the sights and see a show on Broadway,” Walter said.
The dancers will also show off their talents at the Minskoff Theatre, home to “The Lion King”, where they will perform their school’s choreography, complete with costumes.
“We’ll likely perform our end of year number in New York, the one we create for our year-end recital.”
The Sylvan Lake dancers will be fundraising throughout the year, and are hoping to have some different fundraising options between now and next June.
