La Grange Park mom is raising money to support daughter's dream to dance

LA GRANGE, IL - My daughter Ellie has dreamt of being a member of Impact Dance Studio's Competition Team (full company) since she was in 3rd grade, when she auditioned for the first time without any preparation. Knowing it was unlikely she would make it, I encouraged her to go for the experience and build from there, and that is what she did.

She has since auditioned four of the past five years and taken ballet, jazz, lyrical and hip hop classes. After receiving bad news following each of the first three auditions, I told her, “Michael Jordan didn’t even make his high school basketball team. He got rejected lots of times but kept trying and became the world’s greatest basketball player.”

She kept at it and by the end of 6th grade, Ellie felt she needed more of a challenge than recreational classes, but wasn’t advanced enough for full company. The studio recognized there was a gap, and created the Impact Showstars Performance Team, a hybrid between recreational classes and full company. She was quickly promoted from her 7th grade group to dancing with high schoolers and was promoted again in 8th grade to varsity. These two years, the Showstars performed at the Chicago Bulls’ game twice, took workshops and competed and won their division at the Dupree Dance and Move Competitions.

This past year, during 8th grade, Ellie and I struggled with increasing frequency and intensity as the June audition for full company neared. She felt this was her year and that she had a real shot at making it. I, a single mom with a full-time career in public health and a 17-year-old getting ready for college, knew I would not have the money or time to cover more classes, travel, competition fees, costumes, etc. (about $10,000 in total) without help.

I simultaneously encouraged and discouraged her, saying, “You can tryout to see if you make it, but there’s no way we can afford it.” She would say, “What’s the point in trying if I’m not going to be able to do it?” and became increasingly despondent.

The Turning Point

I began talking with other adults about how to help Ellie, and the turning point was when two of them separately told me that it was best for me as her parent to lean in and support her dream; to figure it out. This opened me up and I reflected:

I encouraged Ellie throughout the year by saying, “Every class is like an audition. Do your best and maybe an opportunity will present itself. Intend to get full company. Where there’s a will, there’s got to be a way.”

She followed my instructions far better than I imagined she would. She consistently put forth her best effort in class and out of class: smiling her little heart out to show she had stage presence and working her butt off to learn combinations and perfect form. Her teachers rewarded her by placing her front and center in routines; a spot that’s earned and can be taken away for slacking off. Her hard work was evident in her performances.

I did an about face and decided to lean in and support her after all.

The Power of Intention

I am a big believer in the power of intention - something I learned from reading Wayne Dyer’s book by the same name - and I shared this concept with Ellie: When you want something badly, put it out in the universe. Tell people and tell yourself, “I want this and I intend for it to happen,” and wait and watch the stars align, people step up and obstacles disappear. This is what we decided to do.

Getting to Yes

Ellie and I decided she would audition and that if she made it we would seek funding support, through a scholarship, grant, fundraising, etc. When we learned the audition date, it coincided with a camping trip her dad had scheduled. The dance studio worked with us and provided her an opportunity to take class with full company and use that as her audition. This was encouraging. We anxiously waited a couple weeks and then the results came. She did it! After 5 years, 4 auditions and 3 rejections, she has been accepted as a full company dancer! I am so proud of my daughter. #ShePersisted and #ShePersists.

Show Time

Now that Ellie has cleared the hurdle of being accepted to company, it is time to put the pedal to the metal and find funding. We are putting all our faith into the power of intent. We intend to make Ellie’s dream a reality and we are hopeful you will help us by making a donation to the Ellie Junius Dance Scholarship Fund. Our goal is to raise $10,000 this year, and each of the next three years, while Ellie is in high school.

Pay It Forward

In addition, we would like to help someone else. It would be a shame for someone with the ability to dance at the level of full company, to be turned away because of inability to pay. In addition to raising $10,000 for Ellie, we are hoping to receive a matching grant for $10,000 to help another deserving dancer who otherwise would not be able to participate.

To make a donation in any amount, provide a matching grant or become a sponsor, please visit our Go Fund Me page. Thank you!