Shayla Salisbury Dance Training, Dreams Come True!

My name is Christine, I am a single mom to a very talented 12 year old daughter named Shayla.  Shayla is a wonderful young lady and I live for her and her dreams!  Shayla earned all A's and one B during 6th grade, her first year in jr high!  In addition, Shayla trained 4 days a week after school until 8pm, then would do her homework and go straight to bed, sometimes not until midnight!  She is a very bright and determined artist. 

It sadens me that in order to make Shayla's dreams come true, it costs money!  Dance is not cheap!  I am medically retired and collect social security.  I have a disease called scleroderma.  No sob story here.....although I am more often than not, in pain each day, I have been blessed to be woke each morning and somehow I get through each day.  (what would I do without my wonderful mother!!) Although the winters are very rough on my body, my mom helps out whenever she can.  She is a wonderful support system to Shayla and I and my Love and respect for her is overwhelming.  (yes I Love my mommy!!  she comes over every day after work to wash our dishes!) I absolutely LOVE being a mom and live a very full life!!  and I'm THANKFUL!

Shayla is the center of my universe, what I live for.  Her dream is to become a professional dancer, my duty is to do whatever I can to get her there!  I continually fundraise and if it were not for the generousity of others, working toward Shaylas dreams would be impossible.  We are blessed to have enough to eat and a roof over our heads....after that, there is just nothing left over!  We are on a very strict budget....I DO NOT receive food stamps, cash assistance, and I do not run around to churches asking for donations.  I DO however, work at my daughters dance studio to defer monthly tuition, collect returnables, hold bake sales and car washes and even take odd jobs (Ive even poop scooped my doctors back yard and would do it again in a heartbeat!)  I am not afraid of work if my body allows.

These odd jobs and the generousity of regular people wanting to help someone reach their dreams, is how Shay is able to train.  Through generous friends and family such as yourselves, Shayla has already accomplished many dance dreams!  She trains with very dedicated instructors, learns so many valuable lessons at competitions, performs and is awarded at competitions and performances, is able to train several days a week and is working towards many future goals.  Shay danced on the Detroit Pistons Jr. dance team for 2 seasons, she has auditioned with Alvin Ailey and for the Detroit Opera House, danced in a hip hop video, taped a public service announcement, and has danced at halftime for the Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field!  Pretty exciting for someone who is only 12!!!  Thank you for helping her to reach these goals and to experience such excitement that has given her (and myself!!!) so many precious memories :)  This, is priceless........and so very much appreciated...........

This is the start of the 2012-13 dance season!  We are beginning our fundraising for the year!  Choregraphy fees run btw $400 & $500, costumes btw $400 & $700 & approximately $1,000 for competition fees.  This is for the entire season but choregraphy & costumes are due before Christmas.........then there's Christmas.....OMG can u believe its only 4 months away.. :) :) 

Thank you for reading about us!  And thank you for considering making a donation.  Even $5.00 is a huge help.  I collect 50 cans for 5 bucks LOL  -  If you sent us your email or facebook, we would love to send you updates so you can see your donation in action!  In 5 or 6 years Shay will be thanking you on a Broadway stage!  Thank you for helping me, help my baby, make her dreams come true!  Karma going to give you a BIG kiss!