Otdance's Blog

Wishes With OTD

otdance — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:09:36 +0000

Hello San Diego community and viewers!!!

Wishes.

When we all think about and dream about our wishes, we always look up and imagine that one day it will come true.

Some of us wish for a new car, a million dollars, or even a shopping spree.

Some of us wish for a significant other, a passing grade in Math class, or an acceptance letter from a University.

And in some cases, some of us just wish for a musical instrument, shelter, and some even wish for another week to live.

We all wish for something that will make us happy. Will that wish come true today?

Sunday, September 5, 2010—Outreach Through Dance presents “Dance for a Wish”

Outreach Through Dance is a production company that produces dance showcases such as “Dance For A Wish” in hopes of raising money for various non-profit, research and charitable organizations in San Diego.

Dancers from Mesa College, Grossmont College, local dance companies and various studios throughout San Diego and Los Angeles are coming together to participate in this year’s dance production called “Dance For A Wish” to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of San Diego. Our goal is to raise enough funds to sponsor a wish of a child. This year we are doing this show in honor of our 4-year-old wish child, Emely Valencia. Emely and her family have been fighting her illness, but still manages to smile at everything she wakes up too. Emely definitely has the strongest spirit towards life, which is truly admirable!!!

She gets excited when she hears the sound of a strummed guitar.

She smiles because she’s sharing her love.

She laughs when you laugh.

She hugs because she can feel.

She is strong because she has hope.

She made me realize that life IS beautiful…even if you’re struggling.

The “Dance For A Wish” showcase will feature a wide variety of hip hop and contemporary dances. Each piece will convey a different message what we wish for to bring us hope, strength, love and passion. Trust me, you will be touched and inspired through every piece that will be performed and also, by every poem that is read by our narrator, Rudy Francisco.

I’m so excited for the show! We’ve been working really hard to put this show together for Emely. Through the power of dance, our organization conveys to people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds the message of hope, strength, positivity, joy and the power of giving. It’s an amazing feeling to come together in dance community to put a production showcase for a great cause!!!

Please come out and support this cause…get ready to be inspired!

Tickets are available at http://tickets.lfjcc.org/ .

Oh! Guess what?!? Emely wished for a grand piano. What’s your wish now?

-Sasha Pizarro

www.outreachthroughdance.com

THANK YOU from OTD

otdance — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:53:15 +0000

The Outreach Through Dance staff would like to thank each and every one of you for your unconditional support in our 25K Pepsi Refresh Project. Thank you to those who voted every single day, who helped repost our voting links and spread the news through word of mouth throughout the month of June. It was such an amazing experience just to campaign and talk to other organizations and individuals. The opportunity to share our story on who we are and what our organization is about is a blessing. We were able to establish and strengthen relationships not only in the dance community, but also in a community that loves to change lives and help others.

Although we did not get the Pepsi grant this time around, Dance For A Wish will still be produced. The competition was fierce and we congratulate those organizations and ideas that did get their ideas granted. We will continue to aim high to create awareness and opportunities where you can make a positive difference in someone else’s life, including your own.

As we move forward, we will be promoting Dance For A Wish. This event will take place on Sunday, September 5^th at the Dorothea and David Garfield Theater in La Jolla. We have a crazy line up of featured artists and the theme of our show will definitely touch your heart. Be on the look out and help us spread the word. More importantly, join us to be a part of a child’s wish.

Your reach is limitless.

Visit our website to check for updates and for ways to get involved in the community.

(image from our OTD Pepsi Workshop with Sammie and Julie at The Wood Room)

PS. Special thank you to those who supported and help helped make our Pepsi Campaign strong:

The Make-A-Wish Foundation, San Diego Chapter

OTD cast

The Wood Room Performing Arts Center, Cindy and Allison Hill

Sammie Cross and Julie Dismukes

Studio 429 and Tammy Seiler

Studio FX and Vanessa Andrada

Culture Shock Dance Center and Angie Bunch

220/Fusion Hip Hop

Super Galactic Beat Manipulators

Mike Heras for your diligent submission

Laura Antoinette-Corral for your beautiful voiceover

Fausto Ochoa for flyer design

and last but not least, YOU for being such a loyal and loving supporter.

5 for $5

otdance — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:57:50 +0000

Between June 14^th and June 30^th, VOTE OTD for Pepsi Refresh 5 different times and you can take a regular scheduled class at STUDIO FX for only $5. This voucher does not expire, however in order to get it you must act fast!

How It Works:

Visit www.refresheverything.com/voteotdance
Vote Outreach Through Dance in the Pepsi Refresh Project by clicking the “Vote for this Idea” button under $25K.

*If you are a first time voter, you must register with a valid email address first. Or, you can Log In using your Facebook details.

3. In the comment section on OTD’s voting page, type in our promo code

OTDD4S

You can only vote once a day so you will need to vote on five different days. Vote and type the promo code OTDD4S on the Comments section in OTD’s Voting Page under the same user name five different times in order to make the voucher valid.

Happy Voting! Thank you for your support!

For info visit:

www.studiofxlive.com

www.refresheverything.com/voteotdance

www.outreachthroughdance.com

Flyer design by Fausto Ochoa of Common Ground Designs

A FREE Dance Workshop feat. Sammie Cross & Julie Desmukes

otdance — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:55:07 +0000

Vote OTD For Pepsi Refresh – A FREE Dance Workshop

Saturday, June 19th 7:30-9:00pm @ The Wood Room

Sponsored by Outreach Through Dance, The Wood Room and WorldFamous Crew

This class is ABSOLUTELY FREE! Simply VOTE OTD for Pepsi Refresh at our voting stations before entering the main studio. This workshop is part of OTD’s efforts to create awareness of the organization and campaign for the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Guest Instructors:
Sammie Cross and Julie Desmukes | WorldFamous, CSLA/SD

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010

Voting Stations open 7:00pm
Class 7:30pm – 9:00pm

The Wood Room Performing Arts Studio
3800 30th Street
San Diego, CA 92104-3672
(near University Avenue and 30th)

*Parking Structure ($)/Street Parking (free)

Outreach Through Dance is in the running for a 25K grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project to help produce our 2nd Annual “Dance For A Wish” to help grant multiple wishes for children in a single event.

VOTE OTD for PEPSI REFRESH now by clicking on this link:
www.refresheverything.com/voteotdance

Vote once a day, EVERYDAY throughout the month of June. Help us spread the word!

Please confirm on our FB events page. Copy and paste the URL link and when you get to the EVENTS page, mark “Attending” on the right hand side:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130118603678629

OTD for Pepsi Refresh Project

otdance — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 01:24:15 +0000

Dear Friends,

After months of trying, Outreach Through Dance finally got into the Pepsi Refresh Website and is in the running for a 25k grant to produce our 2^nd Annual “Dance For A Wish” and grant multiple wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, San Diego Chapter. The benchmark rate to grant one wish is $7,000. We are aiming to grant 3 wishes. You can help us make this happen by voting for us once a day, EVERYDAY in June. Not only does our goal for Pepsi Refresh include winning the grant, but it is to unite the dance community of San Diego together to all believe in one mission- making a difference. Voting is making a difference. Spreading the word and re-posting our newsletter is making a difference. Making that pledge to vote everyday is making a commitment to make a difference.

If we rank in the Top 10 by June 30^th, we will be considered funding for our show. Right now, we are in the upper 1/3 of the ranking. This is good, but we need a lot people to support us by voting.

Regardless of the outcome, “Dance For A Wish” will be produced. Join us on Sunday, September 5^th at the Dorothea and David Garfield Theater at the Lawrence Jewish Family Community Center in San Diego.

Thank you ahead of time for your support. Let voting be that positive thing you do everyday. Copy and paste this link to vote: www.refresheverything.com/voteotdance

Roll Out The Barrel

otdance — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 02:01:31 +0000

Outreach Through Dance will be participating in an event called ROLL OUT THE BARREL, an event benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego, presented by San Diego Credit Union. We will be donating an auction basket of music goodies and dance lessons. We would like to thank BEST BUY, Culture Shock Dance Center and Breakin’ Habits for their in-kind donations.

For more information

ROLL OUT THE BARREL

http://www.makeawishgala.com/

UPDATE from OTD

otdance — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:44:28 +0000

Hello friends. The campaigning efforts and support from the community for the Pepsi Refresh Project have been exceptional. It is a blessing to see so many of you believe in “Dance For A Wish” and our goal to grant multiple wishes in a single event.

However, on behalf of OTD, I would like to announce that our Pepsi Refresh campaign will be pending until further notice. We would like to thank those who’ve helped us spread the word. You’re amazing! We’re not giving up on the Pepsi Refresh Project so we’ll keep you posted! More importantly, “Dance For A Wish” event is still happening on September 5th and our goal to grant multiple wishes in a single event is still alive and on fire!

The theme of this year’s “Dance For A Wish” will be showcasing the “wish” of each featured artist. What’s great about “Dance For A Wish” is that we focus on producing shows where you, the community, have an opportunity to get to know the artist on a personal level through their movement and the messages they convey in their piece. Last year’s show featured four suites: The Hip Hop Suite, The Love Suite, The Wonderland Suite and The Hope Suite. One very memorable suite was “The Hope Suite” as it contained works by Kristen Aguinaldo and Boogiezone’s Breed dance company. Both conveyed messages of Hope and Faith dedicated to our wish child. The most beautiful moment in that suite was when Tiana, our wish child, bowed in the Finale with the entire cast of “Dance For A Wish”. It showed a community of dancers coming together for one moment, for one child. It was moving.

We look forward to doing it again this year. Stay posted as we will announce who our featured artists will be for Dance For A Wish 2010!

HUGS- Melissa Adao

Pepsi Refresh Project

otdance — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:25:38 +0000

UPDATE: VOTING date is pending until further notice

refresheverything.com/voteotdance

We are very proud to announce our campaign for the Pepsi Refresh Project. For the entire month of May, OTD will be in the running for a 25K grant from Pepsi to help fund Dance For A Wish on September 5, 2010 in San Diego, California. The goal for our Pepsi Refresh Project campaign and Dance For A Wish is to adopt 3 wishes for children from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, San Diego Chapter. But we are going to need your help to please VOTE VOTE VOTE for OTD!

HOW TO VOTE

Staring April 1,MAY 1st go to www.refresheverything.com/voteotdance

It’s that easy! Support OTD and be a part of a child’s wish. Your vote will make a difference.

Check out our Dance For A Wish recap video from last year.

refresheverything.com/voteotdance

For more info on Outreach Through Dance

www.outreachthroughdance.com

Pepsi Refresh Project

www.refresheverything.com

Thank you so much for your support and faith in our organization!

Dance For Haiti

otdance — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:37:18 +0000

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude hit the island of Haiti. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the island in 200 years. The magnitude of the earthquake resulted in devastating results. Many buildings collapsed and many people were hurt along the way. The Haitian Government reports that between 217,000 and 230,000 people had been identified as dead, an estimated 300,000 injured, and an estimated 1,000,000 homeless. Unfortunately, the numbers are still on the rise.

Many countries are responding to this devastating occurrence through pledging funds and supplying medical assistance to those who were hurt. There has also been an outpouring of love, support and contribution from the dance community. Your relief efforts to help bring Haiti back to order is a great reminder of how your gifts and talents can help others in a positive way.

On March 27, 2010, the hip-hop dance community will rally for DANCE 4 HAITI, a benefit for the American Red Cross’ efforts in Haiti. See flyer below for more details.

Here is a video featuring a list of instructors involved in the workshop:

Past workshop to acknowledge is “HIP HOP FOR HAITI” at Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in North Hollywood. On February 27, 2010, they raised $1,300 (via twitter.com/lisetteslife). Instructors included Jayson Wright, Lisette Bustamante, Lyle Beniga, Super Dave and Tabitha Dumo. All proceeds were donated to Mercy Corps to help rebuild Haiti.

OTD would like to acknowledge and congratulate the dance community and your selfless efforts to make this world a better place.

OTD for FUSION XI

otdance — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:16:10 +0000

Outreach Through Dance is a collaborative sponsor for FUSION XI!

Join us on March 28, 2010 as 220 and MASA promote cultural awareness through Hip Hop dance. Check the flyer below for more details! OTD’s Founder Melissa Adao will be a judge along with Angie Bunch, Phillip Geniza, Tessandra Chavez and Tony Caligagan.

WATCH Fusion XI Trailer!

FUSION XI: Dimensions of a Generation will be held on
Sunday, March 28th 2010 in RIMAC Arena @ UC San Diego.
Tickets are available now @ www.boxoffice.ucsd.edu

$18 for UCSD Students
$21 for NON-UCSD Students
$23 at the door
(2 TICKETS PER UCSD STUDENT)