Community Centre and Fine Arts Studio
Dancing is a popular pastime for the children of Bliss. With or without music, one would notice kids doing a few dance steps just for fun and laughs. School occasions are never without a dance presentation. However, most of these kids have never felt the comfort of wearing leotards and tights, have never seen jazz dance, nor felt the fine floors of a dance studio. With the talent present but the resources missing, Volunteer for the Visayans want to inculcate in them the love for dancing and give them the chance to further explore dance as an art, and for the children to develop a passion, learn discipline, and be ou
t of the streets.
Chelsea, a 2007 VFV volunteer, initially taught a few eager children some simple dance steps and just two months after, what used to be a simple past time has turned into a daily dance activity. VFV saw a rapid growth in the number of dances and performances. With the help of another volunteer, Stephanie, who also led various dance workshops at the VFV Center, it became obvious that the children's dance group is really dedicated - that it caught the organization's interest for further development.
That is why VFV envisions to create a second community centre and fine arts studio. The kids will no longer have to endure the dusty and accident-prone street, where they usually express their talent in dancing, nor will they have to bear the limited space at the VFV center for classes. VFV aims to bring these talents home to a hub where these can be further nurtured - for no fee at all.
The proposed second community centre (perspective, right photos) is a two-storey building that will house the dance floor on the second floor and three tutorial classrooms on the ground floor - accommodating about 60 students everyday. It is designed to be perfectly conducive for not only dance and arts lessons but also academic tutorials, music lessons, martial arts courses and further VFV coordinated activities. The community centre will also serve as a placement for dance volunteers who want to share their skills in the performing arts and will act as a second base of operations for VFV so we can increase our reach out to the local communities.
How Can You Help?
Sponsor A Child
The Dance Sponsorship Program will match a sponsor with a dance student. For only $25 each month, a child will get regular educational and medical assistance, plus dance lessons. For more information enquire at vfv.info@visayans.org or email our Child Sponsorship Coordinator
Be A Volunteer
Become a volunteer at one of our many Placements and get the opportunity to teach dance not only to the individuals at the placement but also with the children in our local community.
Involve Others Through A Dance Drive
Conduct a "Dance Drive" at your school or local dance studio! Outgrown or out-of-fashion dance clothes (leotards, dance pants, shorts, dance costumes), outgrown dance shoes, old performance props, dance books, dance CDs, DVDs, Stereo equipment, etc. -- your contributions from your dance drive will help clothe all the dancers with proper attire as well as help them with costume costs.
Make a Donation
Your donation will help make the Dance Studio project a reality for these young dancers. A local architect designed the building for free and a study abroad office in Florida kindly donated funds to start the purchase of the lot. The next step is construction of the building -- donations will directly go to funding of the construction of the dance studio. For more information enquire at vfv.info@visayans.org