Igniting Potential — Personal Story Template
Replace everything in [brackets] with your own words. Add, remove, or rearrange to make it feel like you.
[Your Name]'s Story
I joined Backhausdance [X years ago / in YEAR], and it [changed my life / deepened my connection to community / gave me a home as an artist — choose one or write your own]. What keeps me here is [the people / the mission / the work we do with young people / something specific to you].
One moment that stays with me: [Share a specific memory — a student you worked with, a performance, a breakthrough. One sentence is enough.]
The youth we reach through Backhausdance's education programs remind me every day why this work matters. When a kid [discovers they love moving / feels seen for the first time / steps on a stage], I remember exactly why I do this.
Your support helps us keep bringing dance to young people in Orange County. Every donation makes a difference — please give to my Igniting Potential campaign and help us [reach more students / ignite potential in the next generation / keep dance accessible to every body].
Thank you for believing in this with me.
— [Your Name]
Give Youth Access to Dance. Open the Door to Possibility.
Every student deserves the chance to dance and feel inspired, to meet a professional artist who believes in them, and to discover what they are capable of through Backhausdance Education..
Yet for most students, dance is not part of their education.
As schools navigate increasing academic demands, limited resources, and competing priorities, meaningful and equitable opportunities to experience and learn through dance and the arts are more limited than ever.
Backhausdance Education helps bridge that gap.
Since 2003, Backhausdance has brought high-quality artistry and professional contemporary dancers into schools and communities throughout Orange County. Our education programs reach students of all ages and abilities through performances and assemblies, interactive workshops, master classes, multi-session residencies, after-school programs such as Let's Dance, and professional training to our Annual Summer Intensive (BDSI), through the
B. Mor Summer Intensive Scholarship Fund.
Each dance education experience opens a new door:
Assemblies and performances introduce students to the thrill of live contemporary dance and the experience of seeing professional artists perform.
Workshops and master classes invite students to move, create, experiment, and make connections between dance and classroom learning.
Residencies give students the opportunity to work over time with professional dancers—to develop movement and choreography, collaborate, build confidence, and explore where dance might take them.
Scholarships help remove financial barriers for serious teen and emerging dancers pursuing advanced training in our Annual Summer Intensive.
Our professional dancers and teaching artists go above and beyond teaching contemporary dance. They bring the creative process into the learning environment, encouraging students to express ideas, find their voice, work together, take creative risks, and discover new ways of understanding themselves and the world around them.
For many students, a Backhausdance Education performance or program may be their first opportunity to experience professional contemporary dance. That magical moment can awaken the possibilities to learning, curiosity, creativity, belonging, lifelong appreciation, and even a future in the arts.
A recent B. Mor Summer Intensive Scholarship Fund recipient shared:
"Backhausdance provided a safe environment that really helped me to improve my practice. I became more
comfortable being uncomfortable and unfamiliar because of the supportive space cultivated by the faculty."
This is why Backhausdance believes in Dance Every Day for Every Body. We are committed to providing uplifting dance experiences to students regardless of background, ability, or financial circumstances.
A single performance can spark curiosity. A workshop can reveal a hidden talent. A teaching artist can become a mentor. These engaging and transformative encounters can inspire a lifelong appreciation for the arts—or even a future path as a dancer, artist, educator, or creative thinker.
Take the Next Step
With your contribution to Backhausdance Education, we can reach or exceed our goal of $10,000 to sustain and expand these opportunities for youth throughout Orange County to help them thrive with dance!
Whether it is a student's introduction to professional performance, a creative learning experience with a teaching artist, or access to advanced training through scholarships, your much-needed donation helps remove barriers and expand access to dance.
Thanks to a generous matching gift from our Board of Directors, every donation will be doubled—increasing your impact and helping even more young people experience the power of dance.
Together, we can ignite the potential of young people and enrich the health and vibrancy of our communities.
Thank you for helping to bring positive opportunities to our youth in places where it's needed the most - which is everywhere!