By: Erica Silber/Special to TRT—
EASTHAMPTON, MA—Dancers of all levels are invited to Dance for a Cause! Benefiting Prison Birth Project on the first four Fridays in August (1, 8, 15, 22), our first annual summer series of Latin dances and lessons will spin across the floor at Eastworks suite 147 in Easthampton, MA, 7-11 p.m. Join us for exhilarating fun that supports important work with mothers in jail! Tickets are $10. No partner necessary. All are welcome! Please spread the word to help make this new annual summer benefit series a great success.
You may have seen Prison Birth Project (PBP) in the news recently as the force behind passing a new bill that finally ends the inhumane practice of shackling mothers during labor and delivery. PBP provides support and leadership training groups for mothers in jail, and organizes with currently and formerly incarcerated people for human rights—such as adequate pregnancy healthcare—to be honored in MA jails and prisons. PBP also offers doula services to MA mothers in the crisis of being incarcerated during pregnancy and birth… and YOU can support this vital work just by dancing!
The fun will start with a beginners’ lesson and practice 7-8 p.m. and an intermediate/advanced lesson 7:30-8. Then until 11 DJ Alexavier from the Iron Horse will roll out a night of intoxicating beats that make you want to move nonstop. (Good thing there’s air conditioning!) Lessons will cover merengue, bachata with tango, salsa with tango, rumba with tango, and cha-cha, emphasizing dance by feel. Event directors and dance partners Michael Rodriguez and Erica Silber will teach alongside guest instructors from among our sponsors in the Latin dance community. Instructors will also be available for casual coaching during the open dance. Dance for a Cause will culminate in a grand Latin bash on August 29th supporting the AIDS Foundation of Western MA.
This event is brought to you by the entire salsa/Latin dance community (Meli & Chico’s Salsa, Amherst Salsa, Anastasia’s Social Dance School, Dance Northampton, Shall We Dance, Michael Rodriguez Dance, Power WSPR 1270 am, and La Nueva Popular 1490 am). It is spear-headed by directors active in both dance and nonprofit fundraising. Erica Silber runs Written Wings, a mission-based business supporting nonprofits and businesses contributing to a better world. She is the grant writer for Prison Birth Project, serves on the Development Committee for the AIDS Foundation of Western MA, and will select local nonprofit beneficiaries for Dance for a Cause each year. Michael Rodriguez has 37 years of experience as a dance coach and event director.
Please tell your friends about Dance for a Cause! If you cannot make it, you can support without attending by donating to the nonprofits online.
To learn more or donate: writtenwings.com/danceforacause.
To join and invite your friends on Facebook: Dance for a Cause, Western MA.
You can make a difference just by dancing! See you on the dance floor!
[From a News Release]
