This proposal seeks funding to enhance the afterschool dance program at Ke'elikōlani Middle School, a Title I middle school serving a low-income community. Specifically, we request support for the purchase of essential equipment: full-length mirrors for the practice space and appropriate dance uniforms for the dance crew. These resources are crucial for fostering a professional, supportive, and engaging environment that empowers students through dance. Beyond the artistic development, this project aims to provide a safe and constructive outlet, build strong peer connections, instill valuable life skills, improve academic engagement, and positively impact the overall school community and its reputation.

While our dance crew is a vibrant and enthusiastic group, they currently lack fundamental resources that are essential for effective dance training and performance. Without full-length mirrors, students struggle to observe and correct their technique, hindering their progress and confidence. The absence of proper uniforms impacts team cohesion, and diminishes the professional appearance of the crew, particularly during performances.

In our community, many students face socio-economic challenges that can lead to disengagement, academic struggles, and exposure to negative influences. Providing accessible, high-quality extracurricular activities like dance is not just about art; it's about offering a vital pathway to positive development and future success.

The investment in mirrors and uniforms will yield profound and far-reaching benefits for my students and the wider school community. The goal of dance at Ke'elikōlani Middle School is to build community, help students stay out of trouble and in school, build connections, create opportunities, help our school create a positive reputation and nourish learning values such as: discipline, teamwork, perseverance, grit, and respect.