Dancers of all ages from Dance Images by BJ will be taking pledges and hitting the studio floor for the annual Kids Helping Kids Dance-a-Thon on Oct. 27, raising donations to make sure local kids are able to take part in dance.
All donations received before and during the Dance-a-Thon will go to the Saskatchewan-based organization Creative Kids. The organization uses those funds to provide kids all over the province — including here in Moose Jaw — with grants so they can take part in arts and cultural activities.
The studio has partnered with Creative Kids since 2013, with the Dance-a-Thon raising over $68,000 in donations over the years.
The studio’s assistant director Shauna Bzdel is immensely proud of that number, but she finds that the goals for the event, aside from the fundraising effort, are more than monetary.
“Our biggest thing that we want to really promote [to our dancers] is being selfless and being giving,” said Bzdel. “It's so important to teach our kids and instill the values of looking out for other people and finding small ways to make big changes.”
The day-long dance marathon is actually organized and choreographed by the senior students at Dance Images by BJ. Bzdel lends a helping hand, but she credits the day’s smooth sailing to her students.
“They plan the classes, they organize. We have a room that's set up with bouncy castles and obstacle courses and a snack room,” said Bzdel. “It's all of our older dancers at the studio that are there all day, putting on this really great fun event for our younger dancers at the studio.”
Bzdel encourages the community to consider sending in a donation for the event, either by contacting the studio at 1 (306) 692-0515 or online through the Creative Kids website. If you know a Dance Images dancer, they can also take your donation as a pledge.
“We would definitely be very appreciative of any outside donations that would end up coming our way,” said Bzdel. “Anything that we can collect, we know is going to be well used in supporting other families out there and allowing their children to be active and do something that all of our dancers love to do.”
The studio also invites the public to stop in during the Dance-a-Thon, to take a look at what the dancers are working on. They will be taking donations throughout the day.
The all-day event is just one of the fundraisers Dance Images by BJ takes part in throughout the community.
“We have really great families, and I feel that our families support us really well,” said Bzdel. “And as a locally-based business, it is so important to find ways to support the community.”
