Ballet Rwanda Launches 30-day Campaign for Studio Expansion in Kigali

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep. 21, 2012 - Kigali:  Ballet Rwanda, a dance school founded in 2009 in Kigali, Rwanda, has a vision to meet increasingly high demand for classes.  The organization is holding a 30-day campaign on Indiegogo to raise the down payment for a new, larger studio that will have the capacity to provide a country of few creative resources with more plentiful and diverse arts courses.  The goal for the fundraising campaign is $20,000 by October 21st, and the funds will go to pay for the required 6 months’ up-front rent.   Those interested in learning more or donating to the organization can visit the campaign website at http://www.indiegogo.com/balletrwanda.

Ballet Rwanda founder Caroline Joan Peixoto was inspired to go to Rwanda when she learned there were very few opportunities for self expression for children there – especially given the fact that 42% of Rwanda’s population is under the age of 15.  Ballet Rwanda started with a class of 15 in the fall of 2009, and has grown to 120 students and several sold-out performances per year.  A video on the campaign website details the history and relevance of the studio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1rncHSUbdI&feature=plcp




Currently operating out of a garage, the students are in need of a larger space.  Six months of rent is required to secure the ideal studio space in downtown Kigali, and Peixoto is determined to occupy this space by the time the Nutcracker is performed this winter. All raised funds will go to the costs of this down payment; the studio runs mainly on modest tuition payments and donations that go to sponsorship of students of lesser means. For more information on the studio or on this generous donation, please contact Molly McPherson at molly@balletrwanda.com or +1 (707) 360-7402.

About Ballet Rwanda:
Ballet Rwanda's mission is to invest in the development of arts in Rwanda through dance. Its goal is to encourage and motivate creativity in children.  The only dance studio in Kigali, Rwanda, it was founded in 2009 by New Jersey native Caroline Joan Peixoto with the desire to bring art to everyone, especially those who had never before had the chance to express themselves through performance art.  

Investing in Rwanda’s future is critical. Over 70% of Rwanda’s population is under 30 years of age. The country is filled with orphaned youth and children. The lack of resources, creative in particular, is serious. Ballet Rwanda hopes to be one means by which creative potential of Rwandese youth can flourish.  

Ms. Peixoto is a classically trained ballerina who has been dancing and performing for over 19 years. She apprenticed under Marcella Contessi from the Theatro Lirico di Milano and has danced at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She studied Social Psychology at Thomas Edison State College. Her dream is to one day have an arts center where children and adults can come to experiment with any medium.