(1993-2010) 18 years and counting, a brief history…
The Dance Foundation is a Chicago-based performing arts organization located
and serving the Chicago-land metropolitan area. Founder, Robin Fisher, owner and director of the
Since its inception, The Dance Foundation has provided scholarships to its recipients
that provided them with tuition for dance lessons, dancewear and costumes. The scholarship recipients, ranging in age from 5 to 18,
have been regularly trained in numerous styles of dance, including: ballet, jazz, tap, and modern dance. Since The Dance Foundation
has been in existence, the scholarship recipients have been required to maintain a high level of attendance both at their dance lessons
and at their individual schools.
Additionally, the scholarship recipients are required to participate in numerous activities
outside of the dance studio. The Dance Foundation also provides its recipients with the opportunity to attend professional artistic
performances and various cultural activities so as to provide them with a well-rounded artistic education. In addition, one focus
of The Dance Foundation is preparing its recipients to engage in dance performances throughout the Chicagoland area.
Since its
founding, The Dance Foundation is the only 501-c3 organization nationwide that provides professional training in dance in conjunction
with a strict requirement of academic excellence for its recipients. It enables these young students to strive for greatness with
The Dance Foundation as its financial, emotional, and sometimes physical supporter.
The Dance Foundation has in the past regularly
performed at Chicago-land area elementary schools and high schools. Such performances serve as a vehicle for the scholarship recipients
to demonstrate all that they have learned in the dance studio, as well as providing them with a stepping stone in preparation for
larger performances that they are required to participate in.
Historically, at the culmination of each enrollment period, The
Dance Foundation scholarship recipients participate in a dance performance with the
The
Dance Foundation believes that both the hard lessons learned throughout each enrollment year and the life experiences gained by performing
have assisted our recipients in immeasurable ways.
Over the years, a major transformation within The Dance Foundation has been
with regard to the financial assistance structure of the organization. Initially, The Dance Foundation provided only full-scholarships
to its recipients that covered all of the costs involved in the services provided. Over the years, The Dance Foundation has adapted
to create opportunities for more recipients by providing a scaled method of financial assistance. One benefit of adopting this method
is that The Dance Foundation is evolving to be able to provide more children with scholarships each year. Additionally, this change
has allotted The Dance Foundation the ability to increase the number of services and opportunities it provides to its recipients including:
private academic scholarships, medical assistance, tutoring, transportation, and so much more.
After many years of hard work
and a lot of dreaming, Robin Fisher’s dream of sharing her performances and stories with audiences both near and far is finally coming
true. In the summer of 2011,