Thank you so much for your kind consideration in helping Dance Exploration with our continuous quest for bringing quality dance classes to underprivileged children in Title One Schools.

When I started Dance Exploration, I started it in Lakewood Colorado- with a goal to reach out to children in Jefferson County Schools. I knew I wanted to make dance accessible to everyone, which is why I chose to have a mobile after school program, rather than a brick and mortar building. I also did not want to make money an issue- so I offered dance classes at $5/class to start to make sure that everyone, regardless of financial status, could afford to go to dance classes.

My business philosophy became “Everyone should have the chance to Dance!” regardless of age, race, sex, social status or disabilities. There are no boundaries for our program and we’ve continued in that philosophy these 7.5 years later. Since 2009 my team and I have grown Dance Exploration to become a leading force in after school dance. We serve children in Denver, Jeffco, Douglas, Cherry Creek, Aurora, Adams, Englewood, and Littleton Public Schools. We’ve grown to become Denver’s premier after school dance program.

Each year we raise money for our upcoming school year to help continue to bring free and/or reduced prices to our local schools. This initiative is very important to me, Dance Exploration and my team. I’ve tirelessly read through the America After 3PM research and have discovered that children in Title One schools are the most at-risk and most in need of after school programs. Their families are also more likely to enroll their children in after school program if one were made available. Many do not have enrichment opportunities made available, and if they do, they cannot afford it. A Title One School is classified based on the number of children who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Since we also work with preschools, we would also use preschools who are part of the Denver Preschool Program’s Free Preschool initiative. We cannot continue to provide classes to children in Title One Schools without outside fundraising and support.

Schools that we’ve been able to provide services:

Ebert Elementary
City of Edgewater Parks and Recreation
Johnson Elementary
St Elizabeth’s School
John Amesse Elementary
Pennington Elementary
Harrington Elementary

We open an online campaign for individuals to make contributions each year. Our Current Campaign for the 2016 school year can be found:

https://assets.gogetfunding.com/dance-to-learn-in-title-one-schools-campaign/

We ask for minimum $10 donation. All donations receive a reward in thanks.

We are also seeking Corporate Sponsorships. Corporate Sponsorships will receive special advertising benefits including class T-shirts with the Corporate Logo and the phrase “We have been given the chance to Dance in thanks to (Corporate Sponsor). All family engagements going home to these families will also thank our Corporate Sponsors and include a link to their website. Corporate Sponsors can also request that Dance Exploration begin programming at a Title One School- if there is a school that has not benefited from the Dance Exploration program- we can start a program for the 2016/2017 school year – as long as the school meets the Title One Classification. Our goal for our Campaigns are the ideal amounts that we would require to bring our classes into local schools for an entire school year- however, even when we don’t reach our goal, the contributions are invaluable in helping us continue to pay our instructors decent wages so the children can experience a dance class that is fun and educational taught through state and national dance standards.

The arts and dance provide so many benefits to children and their education:

• Children are more likely to stay in school when an arts or dance enrichment opportunity is made available.
• Children learn positive habits, behaviors and attitudes through learning dance.
• Dance enhances creativity and the confidence to create.
• Dance helps students develop Cognitive and Intellectual skills.
• Dance helps combat childhood obesity and encourages a healthy and active lifestyle.
• Dance helps children with enhanced language skills.
• Dance can help students with math and problem solving skills.
• Dance expands and enriches the learning of new subjects.
• Dance teaches teamwork and leadership skills and enhances social development.
• New talents and passions are created!

Thank you for your consideration,

Jessica Clayton- Director/Owner

Dance Exploration, LLC

303-949-1975

[email protected]