Dancing with the Calgary STARS – Present and Future

Organization Name: Calgary Dance Foundation
Community: Southern Alberta (City of Red Deer and south)
Funding Request: $25,000
Start Date: 2017-06-30
End Date: 2018-06-30

The Cause

The Calgary Dance Foundation (CDF) is a non-profit organization, founded to promote Ballroom and Latin dancing education for all age groups. CDF’s mission is to develop amateur dancing programs and coaching opportunities for different age groups and ability levels. These programs increase involvement, awareness, and appreciation for the sport of dancing. Dance participation fosters a healthy lifestyle, develops leadership skills and creates well rounded individuals who contribute meaningfully to their community. Through Latin and Standard Ballroom dancing sports, youth will participate in activities that provide them with leadership and sportsmanship skills, while encouraging their creativity and love of dance!

Who Will it Benefit?

1. A school program, where we work with Calgary schools to facilitate a 6-week dance program in which 3,000 kids are taught how to dance ballroom.
2. An annual gala “Dancing with the Calgary Stars,” where local community minded Calgary Stars - such as Andre Chabot, Kathy Hays, Sean Chu, Chima Nkemdirim and others - are partnered with a local amateur competitive ballroom dancer. Global News and the Calgary Herald have previously promoted this exciting event. The funds raised from this event enable those local amateur dancers to attend yearly the Canadian Championships and receive external coaching lessons.

The Canadian Championships will be held in Montreal April 6 & 7, 2018. This is the competition all couples strive to participate in, and must qualify to attend. The qualifications require dancing in several different competitions throughout the year and placing in the top three in their division.