Angela Blessing!

(a.k.a. Onya or Anya!)

Onya twirling with dance ribbon

Angela Blessing has danced twice with IAVDC. She likes arts and crafts, singing, dancing, and reading books. She enjoys eating Mexican food.  She is thinking of getting a pet hamster and naming it Chowder.

Onya doing floor work

Onya contributed papercut art, flower pins, and bookmarks to the fundraiser. Catch her solo ribbon dance at Home/Unrestrained this May 3, 4, and 5!

Daric, midair!

Daric Anderson is 22 years old and this is his first time attending a dance / performance class. He says he likes to dance because the music makes him move, and that’s his favorite part about dancing—the movement.  He likes the dance moves and the music that IAVDC does. He says that choreography, improv and creating dance is fun, and he wants to create break dancing.

Monique, Daric, & Ali dancing with basketball. Photo by Cheryl Green.

Daric says his favorite times at class are when he gets to spin around and jump up and down, and he just loves the “That’s not my name” song!

IAVDC in rehearsal

Catch Daric’s performance at Home/Unrestrained this May 3, 4, and 5 at Zoomtopia!

We made most of what we needed to cover videography for the IAVDC performance, Home/Unrestrained, which means that we’ll have a nice professional video of the whole performance and will also be able to make a promotional video for IAVDC!

And now let us show you some of the excellent things that happened at the fundraiser!

Fun at the craft table. (Thanks to Lavaun and Alyson and their helpers for running the show there!)

Native American singer and drummer John Edmo open the event with an honor song and a round dance. We were too busy participating in the dance to take any pictures! But you can hear John performing a few songs on a local radio station a few years ago, on the Tillicum Wawa: Voices of the People show, here.

Longtime friend of DACP, singer/songwriter Jana Losey, performed a few songs!

In addition to donating a painting for the auction, Joy Corcoran told the story of Iris (the girl in the tactile sculpture) and Aurora the seeing eye dragon (also part of the sculpture). Joy wrote a blog post about her performance, and reprinted the text of her story, here!

After we closed round one of the auction, John’s father, the inimitable Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock)–poet, storyteller, playwright, historian, longtime activist, and Native American consultant, not to mention the Vice President of the board of the National Indian Parent Information Center–gave an impromptu performance of the legend of Snake.

Roll, Snake!

Then Sarah Doherty, DACP  Development Director, dusted off her a cappella folk singing skills for a rendition of James Taylor’s “Millworker” and her own version of “Low Bridge, Everybody Down.” More than a few audience members sang along!

Mules named Sal=awesome (best on the Erie Canal). Photo by Kathy Coleman.

And Inclusive Arts Vibe Dance Company performed two pieces before the close of the auction, at the end of the afternoon! They previewed a new piece that will be debuted at Home/Unrestrained, an homage to Artistic Director Kathy Coleman’s father:

Monique, Daric, and Ali dancing with a basketball. Photo by Kathy Coleman.

Chloe and Addie dance with basketball midair! Photo by Kathy Coleman.

Group shot of IAVDC dancers performing with basketballs: Rachel W & PA, Rachel E, Monique, Daric, & Addie’s arm and toes. Photo by Kathy Coleman

Monique and Chloe dancing

Rachel W dancing with PA; they made intricate circles on the dance floor. Photo by Cheryl Green

IAVDC dancers also reprised their popular Lady Gaga piece.

Addie prepares to pirouette during her dance solo. Photo by Cheryl Green.

Monique, Rachel E, Daric, and Chloe spin and hold monster claw poses. Photo by Cheryl Green.

Rachel E’s dance solo. Photo by Cheryl Green.

IAVDC Gaga group shot. Photo by Cheryl Green.

Stefanie Snider (our visual arts coordinator who runs the open art sessions) ran the food table with Cheryl Green, who, in addition to taking pictures, acted as the Master of Ceremonies. with help from new volunteer Marcella. Our longtime volunteer Barbara H worked with accessibility and auction coordinator Kelley Schaperjahn to run the auction, dance company members contributed artwork and sold flowers, donated truffles from Missionary Chocolates, and kid-friendly necklaces donated by Sarah, and a dozen other volunteers helped us to set up, transfer unsold round one auction items to the round two auction tables, and clean up. We had refreshments donated by fundraiser coordinating committee members, as well as Dovetail Bakery, Fred Meyer (Hawthorne), Grand Central Baking Company (Beaumont), New Seasons (Division), and Whole Foods (Hollywood). In addition, volunteers donated their artwork, and helped us find other donations to auction off (see the full, amazing list of donors here!). We could not have had this event, and our youth dancers can’t succeed, without support from our whole community–and you all came through. Thank you!

And don’t forget–the youth performance we all worked so hard to support, Home/Unrestrained, is this weekend! May 3, 4, and 5–see you there!

We need the following art and craft supplies for our upcoming art classes:

• Colored construction paper
• Colored cardstock
• Colored felt or felted wool
• Acrylic sealing spray
• Jump rings
• Earring wires
• Headpins
• Embroidery thread and craft needles
• Jewelry stringing wire or cord
• Fasteners/clasps for necklaces/bracelets
• Beads (all sizes)
• Donated or borrowed jewelers’ pliers (at least 2 more)
• Donated or borrowed small wire cutters (at least 2 more)
• Frames, 8 1/2 x 11″ or larger (at least 10 more)

We could also use gift cards to art and craft supply stores!

E-mail us at disabilityartculture@gmail.com if you can help with art and craft supplies!

We are looking for donations of items for our art and culture auction this April:

• Artwork, including but not limited to sculpture, jewelry, painting, illustration, papercrafts, prints, photographs, and digital media
• Gift certificates
• Meals at restaurants
• Hotel stays
• Art supplies
• Vouchers for classes
• Tickets to local performances
• Museum tickets and/or memberships

We are also looking for donations of

• Gift certificates to local grocery stores
• In-kind donations from local restaurants and/or bakeries, for light refreshments the day of the fundraiser
• In-kind donations of poster printing
• Paper products: cups, plates, napkins, tablecloths, disposable flatware
• Artisan chocolates and fresh-cut flowers to sell at the fundraiser
• Crayons, paper, pipe cleaners, coloring books, and other art supplies appropriate for young children for an activity table

Do you have anything to donate, or any other ideas about fundraising for our youth dancers? Let us know by e-mailing diabilityartculture@gmail.com!

For the Inclusive Arts Vibe Dance Company performance in May, we are looking for donations of the following:

• Videography
• Video editing
• Professional photography
• In-kind donations of poster printing

Contact the artistic director, Kathy Coleman, at kafia2008@yahoo.com  if you can help us with our IAVDC performance needs!

We’ve received a donation of frames for our Waltz of the Flowers class, but we can still use your help!

Volunteer Coordinator

Duties:

• Recruit Fundraiser and publicity volunteers using internet tools, email, and personal networking.
• Liaise between other committee members and volunteers.
• Clearly explain volunteer duties.
• Welcome volunteers to DACP.
• Supervise volunteers at the fundraiser
• Attend Fundraiser planning committee meetings and communicate challenges and needs to committee members.
• Help with event publicity/other tasks as needed.

Time commitment:

• 4 hours/week
• 6-7 hours/week on weeks that events occur.

Development Specialist

Duties

• Procure donations or supervise volunteers to procure donations of art supplies and items for auction.
• Plan and run art auction aspect of DACP fundraiser: logistics including cash box and credit card payments, bidding sheets; supervise volunteers to  make auction run smoothly.
• Set up and manage auction payment options.
• Keep records of donations and payments.
• Write thank you letters to donors, or coordinate volunteers to write thank you letters.
• Help with event publicity/other tasks as needed.
• Attend committee meetings.

Time commitment

• 4-6 hours/week through mid April
• possibly 8 hours the week of the event.

Hospitality Coordinator

Duties

• Procure food, beverage, and paper goods donations for Fundraiser.
• Coordinate pickup of food and beverage donations.
• Plan and run food and beverage setup and cleanup at the fundraiser; supervise 1-3 volunteers.
• Attend Fundraiser planning committee meetings and communicate challenges and needs to committee members.
• Help with event publicity/other tasks as needed.

Time commitment

• 2-4 hours/week
• 6+ hours the week of the fundraiser

Outreach Coordinator

Duties

• Advertise art classes and fundraiser event using online tools, personal networks, and postering
• Organize at least one postering party to canvass neighborhoods
• Post event details to community calendars and list in radio event calendars
• Attend fundraiser planning committee meetings and communicate challenges and needs to other committee members.

Time commitment

• 2-4 hours/week

Kids’ Crafts Leads

Duties

• Plan an art/craft activity for a wide range of ages and abilities.
• Write up instructions for the activity.
• Plan craft setup; supervise setup and cleanup volunteers.
• Direct 1-2 volunteers.
• Explain craft instructions to children and youths.
• Help participants with crafts as needed.
• Supervise children
• Be flexible about how and who participates.
• Clean up craft area within the time frame of the event.
• Attend one or two planning committee meetings a few weeks before the event.

Time commitment

• 4-6 hours planning
• About 5 hours on the day of the event

Interested? Want to know more? Check out our previous post on this committee and please contact Kathy Coleman at kafia2008@yahoo.com or 503-238-0723 (voice) if you can join our planning committee.

This March we are holding a family art auction to raise funds for the Inclusive Arts Vibe  Dance Company (IAVDC) performance.  We are grateful for a grant from the Regional Arts & Culture Council to fund this event, but it is not enough.

We need to raise $7000 more to cover the following:

• $4000 for costumes
• $500 for photography and editing
• $1000 for performance videography and editing
• $1000 for publicity
• $500 for set design and props

Our art auction will include art made by children, youth, and adults. To accomplish this we will be holding two free art making events for children and youth to create art for us to auction at the fundraiser.

Fundraisers require a lot of planning and many worker bees.  We are looking for individuals to join our fundraising committee who can take on multiple tasks to assist with planning and production of the event.

Committee duties include, but are not limited to:

• Finding a free or low-cost space for the event
• Getting art donations
• Getting food and drink donations
• Publicizing the event: Outreach to friends, colleagues and contacts in person, by email and through social media, poster distribution, posting on event calendars, etc.
• Working at the event itself (set up and clean up, taking tickets, etc.).

Please contact Kathy Coleman at kafia2008@yahoo.com or 503-238-0723 (voice) if you can join our planning committee. 

Also let us know if you would like to help us with the above duties but can’t join the committee.

The more volunteers we have, the easier it will be to accomplish our goals!

Or support our work financially:

Thank you!