Three young dancers at the Wilton Conservatory of Dance are spearheading a dance costume and dance shoe drive for charities that make dance more accessible to children and families with limited resources. Alexis Kelly, Sienna Kauh, and Nicole Satanovsky are committed to helping others and giving back to dance communities where the need is great.
The drive will benefit dancers throughout Connecticut through two primary organizations: the Footloose Foundation, which has collected over 6,000 pairs of dance shoes since 2010; and the Artist’s Dance Collective in Hartford, which brings arts instruction to predominately lower income communities.
Nicole, an 8th grader from Weston, has named the effort “Giving Tutus.” She’s been dancing since the age of 3-years-old, and with several recitals under her belt, has collected many recital costumes and dance attire.
“My mission is to create a service in which people in CT can donate their used dance costumes to those who need them. I felt that I could put those costumes to a way better use,” she says.
The Conservatory of Dance (151 Old Ridgefield Road) is accepting donations of items now through Saturday, Sept. 8. Classes start at the Conservatory of Dance on Tuesday, Sept. 4. Visit the website for more information.