New Orleans, LA - [April 30,2024] - Dancing Grounds, a leading 501(C)3 multigenerational dance studio, rooted in wellness and social change, is thrilled to announce its upcoming Give NOLA Day Dance-A-Thon event aimed at raising $50,000 to support local artists. This dynamic event invites the community to come together and champion the vibrant artistic talent of New Orleans. Call to Action: Embrace community and the spirit of support at our upcoming Dance-A-Thon. It’s a day of dance and “Support In Action,” where our collective commitment forms an interconnected network for artists. The Dance-A-Thon will immerse participants in a day brimming with joy and exemplify "Support In Action," showcasing our organization's commitment to harnessing the transformative power of artistic expression. Experience firsthand how we uplift and amplify the artistic voices of our community, creating space for their stories to be cherished and celebrated. The event will feature free dance classes, an online auction, live segments on social media for out-of-town supporters, giveaways, and more. Parallel to the free dance classes will be an artistic residency called “Support in Action”, where 3 local artists are coming together to create around the importance of nurturing and sustaining the artistic community. Early giving is open and runs until May 6 via Givenola.org/dancinggrounds. Check our Instagram for more information. "We are excited to host our first fundraising event as co-leaders and to rally our community in support of local artists," said Jasmin Simmons-Edmond, Creative Director and Co-leader of Dancing Grounds. "Our organization has been guided by abundance throughout our 11 year history, and we know with generous contributions from our donors and partners, we will continue to make a significant impact on the lives of artists in our community." Purpose/Initiatives: The purpose of the fundraiser is to implement various initiatives aimed at supporting local artists: Higher Teacher Pay Rates: Investing in increased rates to provide sustainable freelance opportunities for artists Hurricane Relief Funds: Allocating financial support for artists' evacuation expenses during weather-related emergencies. Transformative Healing Grants: Offering grants to support practitioners in healing and justice work, combating the impacts of systemic racism and capitalism. Artist Development Fund: Establishing a fund to provide resources and opportunities for artists' professional development, fostering sustainable practices in their work. Photography: Investing in a year-long collaboration with a local photographer, offering photography sessions to support artist marketing and professional purposes. For more information about the Dance-A-Thon and to donate, please visit https://www.dancingrounds.org/give-nola-day. To learn more about Dancing Grounds, visit our website a dancingrounds.org Media Contact: Jasmin Simmons-Edmond Creative Director jasmin@dancingrounds.org