Hello, my name is Olivia Cruz. I am currently 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. My year-round sport/activity is Dance. I am also on my high schools dance team the Wethersfield Eagles. This year I was selected as CHSCA All-State Team dancer. I also attend The Dance Project in Bristol, CT. Where I am a member of the Performance Team, we practice 4-5 days a week, and compete at multiple regional competitions and a nationals in the summer. 

This year, I am trying to attend more summer dance intensives and classes to further my education and prepare for my future. I love to learn from a variety of teachers and learn in new spaces. In the future, I hope to attend college in the Northeast and be on a dance team. I have attended multiple dance clinics at Quinnipiac University, University of CT, Central CT State University & Hofstra University.

This summer I am looking forward to attending the Generation IV Summer Intensive in MA. I will also be attending the UDA Camp in RI. I love the atmosphere and school spirit that thrives within dance teams! Also, I have made lifelong friends & connections because of the dance world.

This summer to further my dancing, I also hope to be able to attend Week 1 at the CLI Conservatory and have already been accepted. The CLI Conservatory is located in Mass. The intensives I hope to attend will have some of the most prestigious names in the dance industry. It would be an honor to learn from these teachers and dance alongside dancers from all over the country.

However, dance education is very expensive. I would love to have a job to support the expenses, but I cannot until i'm 16. This fundraiser is fully to help take some of the financial burden off of my family. Additionally, any money raised will go to the tuition, dorming/hotels, and transportation for these summer intensives and my studio classes.