Help Natalie Raise Funds for Autistic Wings

I have always loved to dance, but dance studios have always been a place where I didn't quite fit in. My dance teachers didn't understand my neurodiversity. It wasn't until I found Autistic Wings Dance Company that I found the perfect dance studio home. My teachers not only understand my neurodiversity, but they are neurodivergent themselves! 

My teachers also saw something in me. They told me I was part of their new pre-professional dance company, the Golden Chrysalises. I wasn't really given a choice. I was just told that I was perfect for the group and I was joining as a Founding Member.

The Golden Chrysalises isn't your typical pre-professional program. We're not just learning about dance. We are learning about the entertainment industry.  We're learning dance choreography that will be part of our concerts for years to come. We're learning choreography for videos that we're going to put YouTube.

We are learning how to interact with fans and to sign autographs. We're learning how to work a table at tradeshows and talk to potential sponsors and recruit new students. We're learning about fundraising and how it works. (And how to run nonprofits on a budget.)

Of course, our schoolwork can't suffer, so we're learning how to juggle classes, rehearsals, shoots, events, talking to the media, and our schoolwork.

This level of training isn't cheap. Especially because we need to hire a full-time choreographer that can work during the day, rent a space, pay the utilities, and - according to our company manager - pay for snacks so she doesn't have to deal with hangry dancers. All of this costs about $3400 a month per dancer. Which is a lot of money. Especially when you're eleven years old and don't work.

This Autism Acceptance Month, Autistic Wings Dance Company is doing an "Adopt a Dancer" fundraiser. We're trying to raise $3400 in monthly donations per Golden Chrysalises dancer. Our hope is that we can hire a full-time choreographer to teach us. Your donation of $10, $20, or even $3400 a month will help us reach that goal. It will help the Golden Chrysalises move one step closer to performing on stages around the country. It will help me get one step closer to my goal of becoming a professional dancer.

Thank you for your support.

-Natalie