Feature photo description from left to right: Students names: Teagan Sutpen, Charlotte Huizinga, Bailee Horton, Niome Aviles, Sadie Burchett and Kaia Smith. Havasu Dance Alliance students partnered up with We be Poppin’ snacks for one of their many fundraisers in front of Albertsons Grocery Store. Photo courtesy of Janelle Huizinga.
LAKE HAVASU CITY — Performing arts students of Lake Havasu will be getting some much-needed help this fall that will assist them to embrace their natural talents.
Since March of last year, theatre arts nonprofit Havasu’s Dance Alliance is still going strong with their continuous fundraising.
From decades of dancing in front of live audiences as a child until graduating high school, president of the dance charity Janelle Huizinga’s inspiration to work with young aspiring performers, came from more than just a passion of the discipline.
For almost a decade, Huizinga stepped away from the world of dance to raise a family. Now with a daughter practicing dance, Huizinga began to quickly realize the costs needed for classes and shows were not very cost effective. She soon discovered that not only parents were affected by high expenses, but also the students.
Havasu Dance Alliance Vice President Hannah Lapham (left) and Havasu Dance Alliance President Janelle Huizinga (right) at Murder Mystery Sponsors fundraiser at London Bridge Resort. Photo courtesy of Janelle Huizinga.
Moreover, local barber shop owner and friend Hannah Lapham, made some of her own discoveries. Through a conversation with a nearby restaurant server, the waitstaff member shared the yearn for wanting to enroll their child in dance but simply couldn’t afford it. Now the Vice President of Havasu Dance Alliance, Lapham partnered up with Huizinga and organized funding for middle and high schoolers ranging from ages 12 to 17 for their very first Murder Mystery Sponsors occasion.
Steadily, the team began to include community involvement with local businesses like Panda Express, and We be Poppin,’ to generate more interest in supporting their mission.
As a way to provide more outreach, the alliance has helped students taking classes at Havasu Ballet and Footlite Studios. Many of the nonprofit’s fundraisers are intended to cover additional cost for performers such as scholarships, sponsorship’s, class instruction, and travel. Anyone wanting to make a donation can do so by visiting the website at www.havasudancealliance.org.
Havasu Ballet Alliance does not want to leave out other ambitious dancers as they someday hope to help younger children and adults.
This season they will be hosting their very first All in for the Arts Poker Run. On an early weekend morning, attending parents with their children will gather at The Dance Center for the first meeting spot of the run.
Designated stops in between will be Monacello Island, antique store Show me Your Junk, and Iron Wood Country Club. With the final destination being Bunker Bar along with a musical performance by Hysteria Way, participants will be eligible for winnings like best hand at $1,000 or worst hand at $100.
Tickets can be purchased now online for All In For The Arts Poker Run, which will will be on Saturday, November 15 beginning at 8 a.m.
Founder of the charity is especially moved by the youth engagement as well as their ongoing participation with fundraising that is giving students lifelong skills.
“I love watching the kid’s involvement and putting time and effort into raising these funds. I like seeing them grown and it what could turn them into well rounded adults,” Huizinga said.
