Dance studio supports Hope Bridges

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

Changes to Alberta’s gaming and liquor laws means Expressions the Dance Gallery isn’t able to utilize thousands of dollars its parent organization raised working at a casino in 2016.
As a result, Expressions has donated the monies – $28,577 – to Hope Bridges, a non-profit organization that connects people through art.
“We feel so excited and honoured and so fortunate to be receiving this donation,” said Hope Bridges chairperson Sheila Konschuh. “We are determined to be excellent stewards of the money”
Expressions the Dance Gallery (EDG) is a local for-profit dance studio in Strathmore. Its parent organization, Strathmore Parents Association of Expressions (SPAE), is a non-profit that handles competition expenses for EDG dancers and raises money through fundraisers and casinos. Due to a change in gaming and liquor laws, dance groups across Alberta no longer qualify to raise funds and work at casinos.
The SPAE was notified of this change after working a casino in May 2016 and raising $28,577. Because they had already worked the casino before being notified of the law change, they were given an opportunity to donate the funds to another non-profit organization of their choice.
So SPAE made a list of non-profit organizations within Strathmore who they could donate the money to. After a first vote and having the Alberta gaming commission accept four possible non-profits to be the recipients of the money, another vote was held with members of SPAE in overwhelming support of donating to Hope Bridges.
“I work with special needs people and when we were told we could donate our money from the casino, I suggested Hope Bridges,” said Becky Habing, a member of SPAE.
“Our kids (dancers) are well versed in having special needs kids around and seeing what they do in the community and attending the Hope Bridges Gala and Sing your High note program,” she added. “Just to know (this money) was going to stay in our community and serve people that they (dancers) knew was a bonus.”
Although SPAE does several fundraisers a year, the casino fundraiser was the most efficient in helping dancers attend competitions. Future plans for SPAE include budgeting and planning better and doing more fundraisers so that children are still able to compete.
An upcoming fundraiser by SPAE is a St. Patrick’s Day-themed jellybean dance on Mar. 4 at Westmount School.
Although losing casino rights will create more work and fundraising for the future, Expressions is thrilled the money could help someone out and, more importantly, stay local.
“It makes us feel fantastic. We like to give back to our community and this is one of our ways of giving back,” said SPAE president Christina Walsh. “The kids are excited to help out another organization.”
The donation by Expressions the Dance Gallery will help Hope Bridges to continue offering arts programs to community members.