Sammi's Story
Backhausdance has been a huge part of my life since participating in Intensives and apprenticing with them in college and eventually joining the company in 2018. Over the past 9 years, Backhausdance has become a family for me- and it allows me to fulfill my dream of having a job that allows me to practice what I’m passionate about. I am lucky enough to get to both perform with the company and share dance with our community through our education programs in schools and with local youth.
I deeply believe that arts education is such an important part of a child’s development. The arts give kids a chance to explore, ask questions, think creatively, and see things from perspectives that may be different from their own. Through dance especially, they learn how to listen to and connect with others, build empathy, and understand their own bodies and emotions. Additionally, they're given a chance to be seen and to have their unique creative voice be heard and valued. I think those experiences help children better understand not only themselves, but also the people and world around them.
Donations help us continue doing the work that we do. Every contribution, big or small, really does make a difference in helping create artistic works and fund our education programs. If you’re able, please consider giving to my Igniting Potential campaign and helping us keep dance accessible to everybody. Gifts start at just $15!
Thank you for believing in this work with me! 💛
— Sammi
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!