WINONA, Minn. — Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) has been selected to receive a $1,500 gift from the “For The Love Of Dance Challenge,” a charity event created by Apolla Performance Wear, LLC and Dance Arts Center, to help offset the impact of COVID-19 on MCA’s dance programs.
Since March, MCA has offered free and discounted virtual dance instruction to help keep Winona-area residents, as well as students throughout the state and dancers from Mexico who participated virtually, healthy, connected, and creative. Like many organizations, the pandemic has caused disruption for MCA, including a canceled dance concert and extra expenses to pivot classes to a new format. The generous donation will help purchase individual tap dancing boards to be used later this month during a socially distanced outdoor celebration; sponsor free virtual dance classes during MCA’s fall open house Aug. 17-22; and other purchases necessary to adapt to new in-person and virtual best practices.
About For “The Love Of Dance Challenge”
Apolla Performance Wear, LLC and Dance Arts Centre teamed up for a one-time, virtual charity event, “For The Love Of Dance Challenge.” This event has been created out of a deep love for the dance community and brings together leaders in the dance industry, dancers from around the world, and lovers of dance … all uniting to save the foundation of our industry: dance studios.
The dance industry has been decimated by the effects of COVID-19. Dance studio owners are facing severe financial challenges, some even making the tough decision to close their doors. Taking on loans coupled with loss of income is crushing. This challenge is an answer to helping dance studios, but with the various challenges facing our society, it’s also a step forward to equipping studios with the knowledge to propel the dance industry forward, stronger as our country begins to heal.
Visit apollaperformance.com for more information about how you can get involved.
About MCA
The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA), an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, is a nonprofit community arts school offering programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for students of all ages from birth through older adults at the Valéncia Arts Center. For more information about MCA or Galleria Valéncia, visit mca.smumn.edu, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 507-453-5500.