The Moriah Dance Project is currently raising funds for its fourth phase.

The program was started by Sophie Dale, a student at Wayzata High School and a dance team member.  She recently completed her second trip to India where she ran a ballet and hip-hop camp for 140+ students at Moriah High School.

Our longest-running initiative, the dance program is currently the only physical education program in the curriculum at Moriah. While India is a land of dance, ballet training is unknown and unavailable. The girls and the boys of Moriah enjoy ballet, the foundation of dance, that could serve them as a PE class and momentarily turn them into awesome Bollywood and classical Indian dancers. While students thrive on the rigor, discipline and the peace during barre work and practice sessions, they also love to dress up and perform. At the end of each phase, Sophie creates short dance pieces that combine the skills gained in class which is performed to their parents, teachers and fellow students.

In phase 1 during Summer 2017, Sophie created choreography, ran three days of practice sessions, collected donations and purchased costumes and dance shoes for every child, donated a participation gift for every child and organized a recital for family and friends. In Phase 2, she recruited Miss Anne Koho, one of the best local ballet teachers to travel to India and to teach our children. In July of 2018, Sophie completed Phase 3 where she traveled back to India for further instruction.

The funds raised in this next round will go to more outfits and equipment, as well as the cost to convert an open room to a dance studio, complete with bars and mirrors.

Check out the photos and videos below and in our blog to see what’s been happening with the Moriah Dance Project. We’ve already had a few successes!