When we talk about dance programs that raise money with Double Good, we’re frequently talking about competition teams that need money for new uniforms or travel. But some dance academies are just that. Schools that teach young people who have dreams of becoming professional dancers.
Reigning Victory is one such dance school. Owner and Artistic Director Felecia Thomas calls Reigning Victory a comprehensive conservatory dance education program. They teach students from ages two to seventeen in a wide range of disciplines, including ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, west African, and liturgical.
And it’s not a casual or recreational program. Enrollees are required to take multiple classes per week aimed at developing their skills and becoming professional dancers. The group doesn’t compete, but they do sell out their performances, and they frequently get to work with their idols, as a partner studio of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Fayetteville, GA is a small city about twenty miles from Atlanta. So, it’s not a big city. The partnership with Alvin Ailey’s company gives the amazing young men and women from Reigning Victory the chance to train and practice with some of the best dancers in the world through workshops and masterclasses. Sometimes, they even travel to New York to train with the company.
As you might guess, participating in an elite dance education program like this isn’t cheap, especially when travel gets involved, and Felecia wants to make sure that the program is accessible. So, when they raise money, the funds go towards costumes, production fees, and when possible, offsetting tuition. It’s possible, too. A few of Felecia’s dancers earned enough money to cover their expenses for the entire year in just a few days.
The Double Good fundraiser was a breeze for Felecia and her dancers, too. “It’s a win-win for everybody…it brings everybody together,” Felecia said. “It created camaraderie in our studio… We’re just trying to create a great experience for these girls.”
