BIG NEWS!!! We have another matching gift! Right now your gift will be be matched by our Leslie Durst match and our Alumni match. Your gift will be multiplied by 3! $25 turns into $75!!!
Words from our Alumni:
"After a year post-high school graduation, I found myself missing dance more than ever. I luckily had the opportunity to take a couple classes a week at my university, but I realized that the movements weren’t all I was needing. The family I formed at Columbia Dance is really what makes the studio so special, and having the opportunity to come back over the summer to lead their Children’s Summer camps showed me a new direction I could take my love of dance in. Currently, I teach at a studio in the town where I attend school, bringing with me not just the technical skills and knowledge I learned from the teachers at Columbia Dance, but also the sense of community and culture they instilled. Their influence has shaped how I approach teaching and how I build connections with my students. " - LAURA
“There truly aren’t enough words to articulate the impact Columbia Dance has had on my life. From the moment I tried on my first pair of leather shoes in the lobby, the tears I shed alongside my best friends at our last spring show, to the encouragement my teachers have shown me after I’ve left the doors, it’s evident that community has always been at the forefront of the studio. There aren’t many places I’ve parted with that I can say I’m eager to return to, but Columbia Dance is an exception and I’m so lucky to have called that place home.” - THUY
"When I moved away from home for college, I didn’t realize how much I would miss my home at Columbia Dance. Luckily though, you can always come back to this studio. Whether helping out backstage at Nutcracker, playing with younger dancers at kids camp, or taking adult ballet classes, there are so many ways to stay involved and connected even after you graduate. Wherever you go, you’ll always have a home and welcome back at Columbia Dance." - HANNAH
"I’m so grateful to be a part of Columbia Dance. Columbia has truly shaped me into the person I am today. The training has pushed me to grow stronger, and more confident, and the teachers and dancers here have created such an incredible, supportive community that feels like my second home. It’s such an inspiring and uplifting place, and it’s such a gift to be able to walk into the beautiful studio every day knowing I will be challenged to grow, improve, and discover new things about myself as a dancer. I am so thankful for all the opportunities I've had here." - SERENA
"I am deeply grateful to the staff, dancers, and community at Columbia Dance for encouraging me to pursue a professional career, which led me to leave a year early to join Oregon Ballet Theatre. Even after moving on, I’ve continued to feel the support of the family I found there. Columbia Dance not only helped me find a love for dance, but also a love of teaching. I had the chance to spend four incredible years assisting, teaching, and watching students discover the same passion of dance that I found. Whether on a stage or teaching a class, the joy that I find through dance will always be something I thank Columbia Dance for." - ZOEY
"Dance has been such a valuable part of my life that I don't know who I'd be without it. At Columbia Dance, I've become such a better person, not only in physical technicality but also in my confidence and communication. What stands out most to me is that the community at Columbia Dance is truly like no other. I've learned to be a teacher and helper through summer camps and INCLUDE and with the support of everyone there. I have so much love for all the staff, teachers, and especially the students that have become my best friends and pushed me to work harder and strive for my best." - JENNY
ABOUT COLUMBIA DANCE
At Columbia Dance we are committed to enriching lives through dance. We teach our dancers to be self-motivated team players who persevere and are patient when improvement comes incrementally. We teach them to be confident in themselves and to not shy away from challenges. We are passionate about the lessons we teach in the dance studio and we aim to bring the benefits of dance to populations that often do not have access to arts education.
- We award $45,000 annually in financial aid awards
- Over 200 children walk through our doors every week
- 25 children participate in our INCLUDE classes- accessible dance classes for children with disabilities
- 100 children participate in our Outreach program at Orchards Elementary School, a title 1 school.
- 1,500 children (every 3rd grader in Vancouver Public Schools) study our Nutcracker curriculum and are bussed to see our live performance as a school day field trip
Through dance we invest in the youth of our community, empowering them to feel strong, beautiful, confident, and important. We rely on donors like you to impact as many lives as possible.