Help Heather Run away with SPARK! Circus

Описание: WHO AM I?
My name is Heather Denham. I am excited to be a member of Spark! Circus this year. I am a fire performer and hoop dancer. For the past decade, I lived in San Francisco where I graduated from the master's program in fashion design at the Academy of Art University. After graduating, I worked seven years as a technical designer in the fashion industry. Last year, I left my job to pursue hooping, fire performing, costume making, and circus arts full time. I grew up in Carson City, Nevada. At the age of three, I started acrobatics and dance lessons. I quickly fell in love with dancing, performing, acrobatics, and costumes. In the last few years, hooping has become my passion and has brought me back into performing. I appeared throughout the Bay Area as a solo act and with the hoop-dance group Mandala. I was a finalist on both seasons of Hooping Idol on Hooping.org. I am also a certified Hoop Dance Instructor from Body Hoops for both children and adults.
WHAT IS SPARK CIRCUS?
Spark! Circus is an entirely volunteer circus that spends a month benefiting disadvantaged children on the Thai Burmese border. A group of over 20 international performers travel to refugee camps, migrant schools, hospitals and orphanages. We perform silly routines for the kids by day and circus-style fire shows at night. We also run playshops, bring donations of toys and art supplies, teach the kids how to make their own toys and generally make them laugh. The refugees live a life of insecurity and restricted freedom. There are very few opportunities to play, laugh, be creative or have any sort of childhood. Spark! reaches over 4,000 children each year. Spark! Circus aim is to brighten days with magic, wonder, and laughter. We are all unpaid performers and Spark! relies entirely on your generous donations and community support .
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
We provide tools, toys, and art supplies for teaching workshops at each place we visit. Last year we provided over 1500 hula hoops, 300 juggling ball sets, 100 stilts, 100 staffs and more. We have to pay for transportation and gas in local trucks to get us to and from the camps. With any remaining funds we support the local community in their basic needs. Sometimes we help with teacher salaries, or contribute to food programs, buy things like blankets and medicines. For example, last year we bought food and supplies for a camp that had been devastated by fire.
WHAT DO YOU GET AS A REWARD?
I have a master's degree in fashion design and I worked for over 7 years in the fashion industry in technical design. You can get a tutu or furry leg warmers. They will both have fabric from my circus costumes incorporated in. Also, I will make a custom furry vest, furry coat, or any other costume you can imagine. I also can perform LED or fire hoop at your event.
WHAT IF I DON'T REACH MY GOAL?
If I don't reach my goal, all the proceeds will go to SPARK! Circus. I will still send you your reward.
HOW MUCH DO I NEED?
I need to raise $1000 for the cause. I personally need to raise $1000-$1500 for a plane ticket, $1200 for living expenses, $300 for costumes, and $300 LED and fire tools.
WHY SHOULD I CONTRIBUTE?
Spark! Circus is designed to develop creativity, physical fitness, communication skills, teamwork, confidence and cultural awareness. Play is a fundamental part of children's development and a basic human right. We bring a big spark of happiness, love, amusement and entertainment into these children's lives and the lives of those who work with them in the camps and orphanages. Through play we learn so much about ourselves. We not only learn physical coordination and skills, but also learn about the space around us. We let out our creative imagination, lightness, laughter, joy, and delight. This lasts long after the circus is in town The long term objective is to build the childrens' confidence, cooperation, mental and manual skill levels, and creativity through play.
If you are unable to contribute, please share this on your facebook or twitter account, or with family and friends.