El Paisano

Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: News

Dance student Vanessa Hefferman, Modern Dance and Yoga Instructor, Rachel Lopez and Sessaly Jauregui strike a pose.

For over two semester the dance program has been more than dancing hard, they've been fundraising full force, "in order to supplement the dance program budget," says Dance Director Alyson Cartagena.

Thus far there has been 3 garage sales, a Rubio's diner fundraising event, a raffle at the previous semester's dance concert; where a trip to Hawaii was won, and currently a letter campaign is being promoted by the dancers.

Letters have been sent out to businesses, friends and family members asking them to donate as little as twenty dollars for the "Partner" title and anything about 150 dollars will be called "Dancing Divas."

The Dancing Divas will be thanked by providing them with priority seating, a free DVD of the Evening of Dance concert, and a free snack, as well as a special section with their name on the concert's program flyer.

Summer shape up, is a day of fitness to benefit the dance program and the fitness specialist program, will take place April 17 and will consist of body connectivity classes, conditioning, yoga, etc. Just buy your ticket down in the P.E department.

In addition to the fundraising project, Rio Hondo's dance collective( a group of 12 dancers) is working in collaboration of the fine arts division in support of the upcoming foundation gala, taking place Saturday 13th in the Palms Resort. The dance collective will be performing alongside the theater and music programs for the gala finale.

The underlying goal of the various fundraising projects is to present the opportunity for the dance collective to attend this year's ACDFA, American College Dance Festival Association, taking place in Tenpe, Arizona.

"It's a huge deal," says Cartagena, "it's the only college/university dance festival and anyone that wants a future career in dance will be attending."

Dancers will be leaving March 16 to Arizona State University, and will be taking 3 to 4 masters classes a day, and watching faculty performances at night. The dancers will also be taking two pieces to be adjudicated by judges.

Fundraising efforts are ongoing and the growing dance program will gladly accept any donations made.

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