Main fundraiser photo

Laurel Dance Company...the Studio

Donation protected
8/27/17 revised.
Hello. My name is Paula Sauder and I am the Vice President of Laurel Dance Company. Laurel Dance Company, LDC for short, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dance company that has been residing in the Eastern Lancaster County Area for about 15 years and has produced an annual "Nutcracker" each of those years. I have been fortunate enough, along with my daughters, to be in LDC's cast for this production for 14 years and I have been a member of the board and now VP for LDC for 3 years. LDC is a huge part of my life.

Since its creation, Laurel Dance Company’s mission has been to educate area dancers and performers of all ages the joy and art of performing and dancing through our “Nutcracker” production and other performance opportunities in our surrounding communities. Our dream is to do much more.

Over the years, we have resided in 3 different dance studios who were willing to allow us to store our costumes and props and use their studios for rehearsals for "Nutcracker." Unfortunately, in mid-April of 2017, the owners of our most recent home informed us that after the 2017 academic dance year was over in June, they were closing the doors to their studio. Laurel Dance Company was left homeless.

We held an emergency board meeting and decided to explore opening our own non-profit dance studio. It has long been a dream of the Board’s for LDC to open its own studio. As we explored the possibility, key elements started falling into place:
● We learned we could pay the rent to keep the studio and us at its present location.
● We received positive responses from several teachers who want to teach for us.
● We received enough positive responses from dance families who said they would bring their students to classes at LDC.

Also during this process, LDC filed for a non-profit loan to help finance our first year at the studio and to pay for remodeling. We were rejected for the loan.

Fortunately for us
, on 7/29, a very generous donor came forward and gave us enough funds to get the studio started. However, we are still in need of about $10,000. Why? The previous owners had already sold the barres and mirrors  before we had a chance to inquire. We are trying to purchase those items used, but it is proving difficult. We have purchased paint and have been painting to freshen up the place. On our wish list we would also like to purchase marley floors for all 3 studios (we have some for our largest studio), a laptop and dance studio bookkeeping software, a printer, and a new reception desk. Presently, we are using a desk that was left behind and we are keeping records by hand. That's ok. We want hard copies of everything in case of computer problems. Our first day of classes will be on 9/05/17.

We are so excited to take on this venture, but we need your help.

We are asking our friends, family and community for your help to continue to make our dream a reality. Would you be willing to help keep an established dance company and a new, quality dance studio put down roots in their own home? We hope so.

Thank you in advance!

Questions can be directed to Paula Sauder.
Donate

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $50 (Offline)
    • 5 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $75 (Offline)
    • 5 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50 (Offline)
    • 5 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 5 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 5 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Paula Sauder
Organizer
Ephrata, PA

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.