This year CDS is fundraising in order to replace our marley flooring and subfloors for our dancers. Our current flooring is over 25 years old and is loosing its shape and grip. Generally this type of flooring is replaced every 15 years. This endeavor is costly and will run over the $50,000 mark. But the time has come to begin replacing the flooring in each studio step by step, over time. We hope you will support us in our efforts to provide CDS dancers not only with the highest quality education, but also with the best foundational support from the floor up!

What is Marley Flooring?

Marley flooring is a special type of vinyl flooring that gives dancers traction, stability, and a more slip-resistant surface that helps prevent injuries. This type of dance flooring is used in studios, performance spaces, and schools worldwide, and indisputably the best flooring for ballet. It gives a safe, controlled surface with enough slide for turns and enough grip for big jumps and fancy footwork.

The precision and skill of ballet and, in particular pointe, require a delicate balance of slide and grip to keep dancers safe. Along with the marley floors, well-sprung subfloors are needed to provide the spring-back action necessary to give support and safety. A ballet dancer places significant physical stress to their joints, bones, and tendons, which can cause stress fractures if a well-sprung subfloor is not underneath the marley flooring. Dancing on unsprung surfaces can be likened to long-distance running on pavement. So you can understand why both the flooring and subflooring are needed.

Fundraising Opportunities This School Year

While donations are acceptable at anytime to our non-profit dance school, there are several specific opportunities where you can show your support:

1. February 24th, 2022 is Fairfield County Giving Day. This is a twenty-four hour online giving marathon and your first opportunity to help us raise funding for the marley flooring. Please check your emails in February for more information on how to give.

2. March 11th, 2022 is our Spring Benefit Performance featuring Ballet 4 – Ballet 10 dancers. The event will be held at the Westport Country Playhouse. There will be a silent online auction and an opportunity to donate again. More details will follow.

3. June 11th, 2022 is our June Concert, celebrating our dancers, and our 50 + 2 year anniversary of CDS. We plan to raise enough money to begin replacing flooring in at least two of our studios and we hope you will join us in our effort

Connecticut Dance School is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) ballet school dedicated to providing dance education of the highest standard to the Fairfield County community. Established by Elizabeth Gaynor in 1970, the ballet school celebrates its 50th year and welcomes students from ages 3 to adult. It offers various levels of ballet, jazz, contemporary dance, and several summer programs.

Our Dance 4All Abilities classes provide adaptive dance for children with special needs. Using creative movement principles with modified ballet technique, this program allows dancers with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome and physical disabilities to engage, explore and express themselves in dance. All students and parents appreciate our nurturing, disciplined environment.

Generally CDS holds productions at local venues including the Westport Country Playhouse and the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts. It also holds special performances of The Nutcracker for Bridgeport School children including one that is sensory-friendly. In 2020 we had to cancel performances at local venues due to the pandemic. Our classes went online and our 2020 Nutcracker was performed virtually. Because of Covid-19 restrictions we have only been able to fill our studios to 50% capacity. We were thrilled to be back at The Quick in December 2021.As we look towards this new year we look forward to performing all our productions in 2022.

Dance can add infinite depth and artistry to the lives of young people, opening them to a new world of creative expression. Please help us share the transformative power of dance to children in our community by providing funding for scholarships, uniforms and performance opportunities.

Thank you for your support!