Want to Help Dance Studios Affected By Hurricane Harvey? Here's How

August 30, 2017

As studios in South Texas begin to dig out from the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey, the dance community has a message: We’re here to help.

Gil Stroming
, owner of Break The Floor (which produces epic conventions like JUMP and Dancer Palooza), has pledged to donate $25,000 directly to studio owners directly affected by the storm. On top of that, he will match dollar-for-dollar the next $25,000 donations in a fundraiser he’s hosting on GoFundMe.

Commercial dance celebs like Misha Gabriel, Al Blackstone and Kirsten Russell have already pitched in with donations of their own. The campaign has already raised more than $37,000 in just four hours. Anyone is invited to add their donation here.

Former Dance Theatre or Harlem and Ailey star Alicia Graf Mack is hosting a master class in Dallas this Sunday to raise funds for the relief effort and collect donations.

Brown Girls Do Ballet
has started an Amazon wishlist to collect items that dancers and studios in the area need right now.

As Nancy Wozny reported in her story on the storm’s effects, Vitacca Vocational School for Dance in Houston is hosting a food, toiletries, and baby needs drive at its studio tomorrow from 11 am to 4 pm.


Dance Source Houston
has started a spreadsheet for companies and schools that need help, what items they need, and whether they can accept monetary donations directly through their website.

Dance flooring system company Stagestep has pledged to contribute 50 percent of the cost of its dance floors for those who need to rebuild. Studios, venues and dance centers affected by the storm are invited to apply at stagestep.com.

“The dance world is an amazingly supportive community,” writes Stroming. “Let’s do what we can to help our friends, in their time of need.”

Note: This post has been updated as more information comes in.