Raising scholarship funds for local youth dancers and changing lives
SANTA CRUZ – The Second Annual Carrie’s Dream Dance Scholarship Showcase and Auction 
is set for Sunday, February 21, 2016 (1 p.m. & 5 p.m.) at the Aptos High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $20 each. Doors open 30 minutes before each show. For tickets and information visit: www.CarriesDream.org
Carrie’s Dream looks forward to hosting its second annual community dance event that gives over 150 dancers a chance to perform and dazzle the audience, all while raising funds for local dance scholarships. Both shows are performed on the Aptos High School stage in a beautiful state-of-the-art theater.
The shows will feature ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, and hip hop performed by very talented and well costumed dancers from Pacific Arts Complex “PAC”, the Aptos High School Dance Team, Agape Dance Academy of Aptos and Scotts Valley, Cabrillo College, Carmel Academy of Performing Arts, Elaine’s Dance Studio, Sammy’s Animation Dance Community from Hollister, and “Carrie’s former dancer” Alex Beaudoin from UCLA! Both shows will also have a silent and live auction with local art, gift baskets, gift certificates and more. Please support local youth dance by attending one of these amazing shows!
Carrie’s Dream Scholarship Fund Project was founded by friends, family and colleagues in 2014 as a tribute to Carrie Dianda McCoid. Carrie was the owner of Steps Dance Studio in Watsonville; she passed away suddenly. Carrie’s passion for dance and love for her community lives on through Carrie’s Dream and in every child that gets to dance because of her vision. Carrie had a dream that all the students in our community who wanted to dance would be given that opportunity, regardless of their financial circumstances. “She knew it was going to take time to see her dream come to fruition and she wasn’t given that time. However, we are so blessed and fortunate we can do it for her,” said Sandra Staka, friend, colleague and founding member of Carrie’s Dream.
Last year’s first Annual Carrie’s Dream Showcase proved to be an artistic and financial success; it was a beautiful tribute to Carrie. Over $23,000 dollars in scholarship funds were raised for over 30 aspiring local dancers. Ashley Tapley, one of the scholarship program organizers said, “When reading the scholarship applications, you quickly learn that dance means everything to these kids and it changes their lives in a profound way.” One scholarship applicant beautifully wrote, “Dance is much more than something you do after school, well at least for me. It’s a place where you can discover your capabilities, your strengths and your weaknesses. It’s truly magical what dance can do.” Another applicant wrote, “Dance is something I can’t live without, it’s kind of like how we need air to survive, but I need dance.”
In addition $1,200 was raised for the Aptos High School Dance Team, $250 went to the Boys Dance Crew at Aptos High School and $250 to Sammy’s Animation Dance Community. Many of the beneficiaries will be performing at this year’s showcase.
The Carrie’s Dream Scholarship Fund is a project of Pacific Arts Complex with two studio locations, one in Santa Cruz and one in Watsonville. Classes include everything from ballet to videography. Although Carrie’s Dream is not a nonprofit entity, this project was created in order to expand and provide dance scholarships for students in the Santa Cruz County community who otherwise would not have the opportunity and resources to dance.
Carrie’s Dream disperses funds to dancers throughout the community. Ten percent of ticket sales are shared with the Aptos High School Dance team, and participating studios are entered into a random drawing for scholarship funds. In the years to come, and as more funds are raised and available, Carrie’s Dream looks forward to further expanding programs into the community. Scholarship applications are available once per year from May 1-31. More information is available at www.carriesdream.org.
Carrie’s dream is greatly appreciates the financial support for the following businesses who make all this possible. The Barre Studio Capitola, Contractor Advertising, Mike O’ Boy of Sereno Group, Midtown Café, Denise Russo Photography, Midtown Café, Paper & Ink, Poco Solar Energy Inc., Viscaria Dancewear & David Rocco DeTeso at Wells Fargo Mortgage.