Taking on the cost of dance

[attach]6692[/attach]No one should have to dance in their socks unless they want to.

Dancewear is expensive says 21-year-old Natalie Ast. With the clothing and shoes needed for lessons costing up to $500 per class she says the price can be a deterrent for parents of kids who want to study dance.

Ast, who studied dance for 17 years, had been thinking about how to help those families who can’t afford the clothes, but decided to move forward with Tutus for Tots: Donated Dancewear after seeing ads for a contest looking to help projects like her’s get off the ground.

In late October, she submitted her idea to the Start Something with Alesse contest and was informed in early January that she and Tutus for Tots was selected as one of the competition’s six finalists. The two winners will be chosen through an [url=https://startsomethingwithalesse.ca/en/vote/]online vote on the contest’s website[/url] and announced in mid-March.

“I feel very lucky to be selected and have this opportunity to share my idea and promote performing arts to a wide audience,” Ast said.

Tutus for Tots will collect tutus, new and gently used leotards, tights and especially ballet shoes to donate to dance students.

“This kind of charity is really important because it relies on physical donations,” said Ast. “I want it to directly benefit people, right away.”

If she wins one of the two grand prizes of $5,000, Ast says she would put it towards start-up costs, a website and advertising. The remainder would be put into a scholarship.

Ast says she would like to have dance studios distribute the donations to students, because they would know who is most in need. She already has two GTA community dance programs in mind for the initiative.

“I’m up against many great ideas from the other ladies, but I hope that people will recognize my passion for dance and the community.”