Studio Transformation at Rejoice: A Community Effort
Completed Janesia Young Studio
At Rejoice School of Ballet, our commitment to providing a nurturing and uplifting environment for young dancers is at the heart of what we do. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Carolyn Smith Foundation, individual donors, and our dedicated community, we are thrilled to announce the successful completion of major studio improvements that will benefit our students for years to come.
A New Home Amidst Unprecedented Challenges
During the pandemic, Rejoice faced significant challenges, including the loss of our previous studio space. Amid the chaos of COVID-19, we quickly relocated and resumed classes, ensuring continuity for our students. As the world began to reopen, we experienced a 70% increase in enrollment, underscoring the urgent need for studio upgrades.
Welcoming families back into our space highlighted the necessity of a functional and inviting office and lobby area to accommodate guests and foster community connections.
Rallying Community Support
Understanding the importance of training in a safe and professional environment, we reached out to individuals, including many former dancers, to support our campaign. The safety and benefits of training on sprung floors with Marley top flooring are paramount in preventing injuries. Our supporters recognized the positive impact these improvements would have on our students' training and were eager to contribute.
The Opportunity: A Matching Grant
We were presented with a fantastic opportunity by the Carolyn Smith Foundation: a matching grant of $10,000. This meant that if we could raise an additional $10,000, we would be able to undertake crucial studio improvements—a project that would have otherwise been delayed due to budget constraints.
Enhancements and Upgrades
With the generous support of our community, we were able to make the following improvements:
Expanded Dance Flooring: We purchased additional flooring to extend dance space by 8 feet in one studio and 6 feet in the other, going wall-to-wall.
Branded Paint and Mirrors: Fresh paint in our branded colors was applied to each room, and we replaced large mylar mirrors with glass wall-mounted mirrors, reclaiming valuable floor space.
Maximized Space: Smaller carts were introduced to optimize dance space usage.
Studio Dedications: Studios were officially named in honor of Elizabeth McCoyd Greer and Janesia Young. Follow along with our blog for future posts about these individuals!
Project Timeline
September: Grant from the Carolyn Smith Foundation was awarded.
October: Secured full matching funding and painted studios over fall break.
December: Old flooring was removed, and new sprung and Marley flooring was installed.
March: Hosted a school-wide photo shoot in our updated studios with local photographer and former professional dancer, Lydia McRae.
April: Installed mirrors and added new photos to enhance our hallway.
May: Welcomed donors and founder, Patricia Cross, to showcase the improvements.
A Lasting Impact
The individuals who supported this project have made a lasting investment in the future of Rejoice and our students. They have given us a home to be proud of and the ability to serve our community in a professional, beautiful, and welcoming space. We are immensely grateful for their generosity, which enables us to continue providing quality dance education and foster the growth of young artists.
Summer students enjoying the new studios!
Come see our new studios in person at our upcoming Open House, Saturday, August 24 from 10 am - 12 pm.
Thank You!
Mr. and Mrs. H. Lynn Greer Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Jeff Herring
Jacqueline Hutton
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Lotochinski
Sherri Middendorf
Deanna Parker
Vikki Radow
Dallas Wilt
And to the following individuals who gave their time, guidance, and in-kind contributions:
Dalewood United Methodist Church
Richard Ball
Meera Ballal
Mary and Michael Cadle
Nicholle Gerde
Fred Lutz
John Mahoney
Steve Mangeri
Andy Pulley
Jo Ellen Weedman