From September 28 through October 11, Ballet Chelsea will hold its seventh annual Partner With Us fundraising campaign to raise $30,000 to support dance education, performance opportunities, adaptive programming, and community outreach.
Since the campaign began in 2020, 1,250 donors have contributed more than $157,315 while dancers have created 298 individual fundraising pages. This year, dancers and families will share their #WhyWeDance stories on Ballet Chelsea’s social media, putting faces and personal experiences behind the campaign.
“Dance education gives students something they can carry far beyond the studio,” said Artistic Director Michelle Quenon. “They learn to accept challenges, develop confidence and become part of a community. Technique matters, but so does who they become through the process.”
Ballet Chelsea’s Adaptive Dance Program (ADP) creates opportunities for individuals with physical, cognitive, and developmental differences to enjoy movement, music, and creative expression. Since its founding in 2015, ADP has served participants ages 3 to 93+, creating a place where more people can experience the connection and joy of dance.
Now, the ADP program is reaching further. Through work with Chelsea Hospital, ADP is expanding beyond developmental and physical differences to include individuals navigating neurological challenges resulting from accidents or injuries. The collaboration shows how Ballet Chelsea continues to find new ways to use movement to foster participation, connection, and personal growth.
Ballet Chelsea also brings dance directly into the community. Over the past year, the organization shared dance with more than 1,000 community members through outreach performances and events, reaching children, older adults, families, and community members throughout the region.
Through partnerships and outreach with organizations including the Ann Arbor Senior Center, Dexter Senior Center, Grass Lake Senior Center, Chelsea Retirement Community, Silver Maples of Chelsea, North Creek Elementary, Chelsea District Library, and Dexter District Library, Ballet Chelsea is taking dance beyond the studio and meeting people where they are.
These experiences may look different in each setting, but the purpose is the same: to make dance more accessible and encourage movement, creativity, confidence, and connection. Community partnerships, including support from Chelsea State Bank, help make that outreach possible.
For students, community support also helps bring months of studio work to the stage. This December, Ballet Chelsea dancers will perform in the organization’s 29th annual production of The Nutcracker alongside the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, dancing to Tchaikovsky’s score performed live. From The Nutcracker and the annual spring production to community performances and collaborations, students learn to prepare, persevere, work together, and ultimately share their artistry with an audience.
These experiences require dedicated teachers, rehearsal space, music, production resources, financial assistance, outreach programs, and community partnerships. They require volunteers who give their time, families who make countless trips to the studio, and audiences who show up to support the dancers who make them possible.
To support a dancer or contribute to the campaign, visit Ballet Chelsea’s Partner With Us page.
About Ballet Chelsea
Ballet Chelsea (balletchelsea.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds strong individuals through high-caliber training and performance excellence while giving back through arts education and outreach.
