- March 28, 2024
Loading
Of all the things I’ve created in my life, many of the ones I remember most fondly are ones from when I was a kid. There were drawings I did of Disney characters, of an owl, things I wrote for special occasions. I’ve been amazed a few times to find things my mother still has, things I’d long forgotten but she loved and saved. Being reacquainted with such creations has helped spark memories of more crazy, fun and creative things my brother, sister and I did, such as decorating the house with all homemade items one year for my parents’ anniversary, including a lot of toilet paper streamers.
Kids tend to see a world full of possibilities. As we get older, we tend to increasingly see it full of obstacles. Kids ask ‘why?’ Adults tend to accept and deal. Childlike wonder comes with an innocent ignorance of not knowing where the fences and walls are supposed to be.
So much of what happens at an early age dictates, or at least strongly influences, how we view the world later on, and find our place in it. Successes and personal triumphs on a soccer field, in a karate class, a dance recital or an art class can be the seeds of who and what we become later.
A month or so ago, I did a column on my favorite local dog portrait artist, Gena Semenov, and learned of a program, Dancers’ Dawn, to which her daughter belongs. A non-profit group, it focuses on providing dance opportunities for children.
I met with Ivan Puig, who leads the group, recently on Park Avenue. His own daughter, Amaya, 6, is a dancer. He speaks of the program and its efforts as a proud, invested father.
“It started off of an idea,” he says of the new non-profit, officially kicked off in October of last year. “You’ve got lots of after school activities, I mean, you’ve got Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts, and you’ve got football, and all these different activities kids can take part in, dance is one of those. It fits along with that.
The thing about dance is it’s not as prolific as football, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, so not a lot of people try out for it. If your child wants dance, and they want to dance competitively, it’s 100 percent on the parents and there’s really not a lot of support for them. So it was sort of born out of the idea that there’s not a lot of support for the dance community.”
“Our mission is to support young girls who want to dance, specifically those who want to dance competitively,” he continued. The group does not teach dance, but seeks to fund dance instruction for those who might not otherwise be able to afford it. “It’s hard – I don’t like blaming everything on the economy – but when you have a situation in your family economy, one of the things that has to go first, unfortunately, is dance. Sometimes it’s just bridging the gap for a few months. But that’s our primary goal, is to provide financial support.”
“Dance can be a very expensive extra,” he explained, citing average costumes of $75 to $150, with ballerina tutus that can exceed $600.
Much of the group’s efforts are directed at fundraising, from which the funds are then turned into grants provided to individual dance students. Dancers’ Dawn does not teach any classes, but does conduct art classes through Gena Semenov as a way of introducing their dance students to other art activities. In turn, the created works are then often turned into cards, which are sold to help support the program. Duvall Dance Academy in Longwood, where most of the students go, has supplied its backroom for the classes, as well as paid for paper and printing costs.
In the last several months, the group has also launched a consignment effort. “Within the dance community, one of the things you do every year is you have to buy several costumes that your girls dance in; and, it’s really fun and special, but if you dance for twelve years you end up with two closets full of dresses,” he said.
I laugh and refer to the movie “27 Dresses,” which deals with the 27 bridesmaid dresses of one woman. “Yes, exactly,” Ivan responds. He describes the dance costumes are “sparkly and glittery,” and I imagine what such a closet must look like.
The group now acquires dresses from those who will no longer use them, and lists them in a shop on eBay. I know firsthand the benefits of grouping similar items, having a single seller can increase views and, ultimately, sell through. Ivan says they currently have approximately 60 costumes listed, with 200 more to add. They’ve already had two instances of the costumes being purchased by other members, though one of those was for a Halloween costume. Most are on consignment, but some are donated.
“Our primary focus is in dance, but what we really want to do – and this is not in the mission statement – but what we’re trying to do is grow the performing arts as sort of an after school activity for young kids. It’s a creative outlet, something different,” he said.
“In the future I think one of the things we’d like to do is create periodic events in which kids can showcase their talent, and it doesn’t cost them anything to do. We’d love to be able to do something like that for the kids, and include all types of performing arts.”