Hello, All!  I hope that 2012 is off to a good start for you and your loved ones.  Here at Pieces of a Dream, Inc. 2012 promises to be a very eventful and exciting year.  July 2012 marks our FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, and we couldn't be more proud.  With your support and the commitment of our dedicated Board members, dancers, and volunteers, we have made much progress since our founding in 2007.  Please stay tuned for more information about our 5th Anniversary Celebration, which will be held during the summer.

Another great FIFTH for POAD is our 5th annual dance concert, Higher Plateaus, which will be held on Friday, March 23, 2012.  As always, the performance will be held at the Grand Opera House baby grand theater (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801), and tickets are available for both the 10:30 AM matinee and the 6:30 PM evening performances.  This year, we are honored to have Mr. Benjamin Sterling Cannon choreographing a world-premiere concert dance created exclusively for the Pieces of a Dream Dance Theater.  Mr. Cannon, a Wilmington native, is a noted dancer, choreographer, and director, and his resume includes serving as a principal dancer for the North Carolina Dance Theatre and starring in Disney's The Lion King as Banzai.  Mr. Cannon is also the Founder/Artistic Director of look(see, an educational production agency. 

In addition to presenting Mr. Cannon's compelling choreography, we are also asking for the community's help in determining which dances we will present at Higher Plateaus.  This year, we are inviting everyone to vote for the "People's Choice".  When you follow the link on our POAD Annual Concert page, you will be able to tell us which dance from Pieces of a Dream, Inc.'s repertorie you would most like to see again.  Please feel free to vote often, and encourage others to do so as well.  (Pssst...We'll post the results at the beginning of February, so don't wait!)

As you know, Pieces of a Dream, Inc. requires funding in order to be able to present meaningful and thought-provoking art to Delaware and the surrounding areas.  We hope that you will assist us in reaching our financial goals by supporting our upcoming furndraising events:
Thursday, February 9         SALSA & SANGRIA: Pre-Valentine's Wine Tasting
Wednesday, March 7          DINE IN FOR CHARITY:  Dinner at the Union City Grille
More information about each of these events is available on our "View" page.  If you have any questions, or require additional information, please feel free to contact us.  If you'd prefer to make an immediate donation, we can accept contributions to our annual solicitation drive both online and in the mail (P.O. Box 7022, Wilmington, DE 19803).

Thank you for all your support, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Last week, Pieces of a Dream, Inc. kicked off our Holistic Wellness Series with two classes presented courtesy of the Delaware Financial Literacy Institute.

On Tuesday, August 9, Curtis May presented Credit: Re-Learn, Repair, Repay to the members of Pieces of a Dream Dance Theatre.  The class focused on ways to help twenty-somethings improve and build their credit.  Mr. May was able to explain the intricacies of the credit bureaus' methods clearly, concisely, and with a bit of humor.  Mr. May is a Marketing Consultant with C&E May Enterprises and will be returning to the Holistic Wellness series in September.

On Wednesday, August 10, Rod Hausmann presented a College Planning class to the assembled group of students and parents.  The workshop explained investment methods to prepare for the financial burden of college.  Mr. Hausmann identified the pros and cons of UGMAs, Coverdell accounts, 529 Plans, and Roth IRAs.  Mr. Hausmann is the regional Vice President for Primerica.

Please continue to check our Upcoming Events page for future workshops in the Holistic Wellness series.

Last week, Pieces of a Dream, Inc. and the Live, Love & Dance Company concluded its All-Star Dance Intensive.  The two-week intensive covered a variety of dance disciplines, including hip hop, ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and others.  The master instructors, hailing from around the country, are Juan Borona, Kennith Thomas, Whedai Sheriff, Samuel Antonio Reyes, and Pieces of a Dream, Inc.'s own Ashley L. Sullivan-Kirksey.  We would like to extend a big "Thank You" to all the dancers who participated.  We would love to hear your feedback!  If you missed the intensive, Pieces of a Dream, Inc. is offering other dance opportunities this summer and throughout the year.  There are still spaces available for our Pre-Season Ballet Intensive, August 15-25.  The best way to stay informed of all our dance opportunities and other events is to sign up on our mailing list.  Thank you!

Pieces of a Dream, Inc. held auditions for our 2011-2012 season.  We would like to congratulate new company members Erika (Dream Dance Theatre), Keturah (P*D2), and Paige (P*D2).  Welcome to the family!

On Saturday, Februrary 19, Pieces of a Dream, Inc.'s second company P*D2 participated in the Ticket to Broadway Dance Competition.  This annual competition features dance students from all parts of Delaware and the surrounding states.  This year P*D2 performed The Saints Are Coming and I Have a Dream; both dances will be performed at The Shape of Love annual concert on March 25, 2011.  The dancers walked away with 1st place High Gold rankings in the Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Open categories.  Congratulations, Addison, Alivia, Alyssa, and La-Chelle!

On Thursday, February 10, Pieces of a Dream, Inc. hosted its first Pre-Valentine's Wine Tasting.  The fundraiser was held at Veritas' Wines & Spirits on the Wilmington Riverfront.  In addition to the variety of wines and a martini tasting, attendees were able to enjoy hors d'oeuvres donated by Just Desserts by Jekeitta, Extreme Pizza, and Paradise Palms.  While our wine tasters enjoyed the food and libations, they were also able to bid on three different gift bags.  The gift bags included services and merchandise donated by Delaware Swim & Fitness, LOMA Coffee, Bling Kings, Basia Gifts, Zelda's Hair Clinic & Day Spa, ZONE Fitness, Chelsea Tavern, and Firestone Roasting House.  Congratulations to our raffle winners Marc, Alfred, and Orrin!  If you missed Toast to Love, please be sure to sign up for our mailing list to make sure you stay in the loop!

Pieces of a Dream, Inc. is currently in the middle of its annual solicitation drive.  As a federally-recognized non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, we rely on donations from individuals in continue our work in the community.  We hope that you recognize our work as vitally important, and that you will make a financial contribution to show your support of our programs and activities.  DreamWeavers can donate at any level, from $25 to $750 and above.  Specific information about how to join the DreamWeavers is available on our Support page.  If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to contact us.  Please demonstate how important performing and teaching of modern dance is to you.  Please donate today.  Thank you.

Pieces of a Dream Dance Theatre and P*D2 presented "Aphrodite's Daughters" as part of the Fringe Wilmington Festival.  This second annual festival had to goal of exploring and promoting contemporary visual and performing arts.  "Aphrodite's Daughters" was a commentary on love, spoken through the medium of dance.  Each piece in the production addressed the process that women and girls go through as they search for love.  Some of the audience favorites included "Knocking on Heaven's Door", performed by P*D2 and "Daddy's Love" performed by Viveca Hutchinson, Ashlei G. Randolph, and Ashley L. Sullivan-Kirksey of Pieces of a Dream Dance Theatre.  If you missed the Fringe, both of these dances will be performed in our fourth annual concert, "The Shape of Love", on March 25, 2011.  As with all our performances, our primary focus was to connect with audience on an emotional level, and we would like to extend a special "Thank you!" to everyone who took the time to give us feedback.  We appreciate your support!