Guest Post by Jo Hoffberg.
Dance with your favorite instructors and raise money at the same time!
Have you ever participated in a taxi dance? Taxi dances a great way to raise money for a good cause–like for the Frankie Manning Foundation–and they’re always a lot of fun for everyone involved.
The basic premise is that you can purchase a dance with a specific tax dancer and the money will go towards the promoted cause. Dances are $X/dance and all proceeds will go to ABC!
Obviously, you’ll have to figure out how much each dance is ($X) and where it will go (choose an organization).
The taxi dancers might be volunteers, your local teachers, scene leaders, special guests, or visiting instructors.
How to Organize a Taxi Dance
Designate a time and place where the taxi dance will happen. Post it on your website, social media, and at the event location.
- Have your DJ create a set list of songs that are 3 minutes or less and between 140-180bmp. They should look for songs that any level of student would be comfortable dancing to.
- Confirm your list of volunteers and give them their time slot. If you have a lot of volunteers then perhaps 30 minute blocks are sufficient. Clarify this with your volunteers BEFORE their shifts start.
- Have volunteers to collect money and log who wishes to dance with whom.
- Rope off an area where the taxi dancers will dance. Have enough space so that they can dance comfortably. Not only are people donating to support a cause, but they’re also getting access to a “less crowded” dance floor.
- Have a place for the dancers to sit while they wait. This can either be for the volunteer taxi dancer or the customer who is next in line.
- Have a most excellent time!
Jo Hoffberg spends her life traveling the world spreading jazz culture through vintage partner dancing and has taught and performed in 25 countries across 5 continents. She teaches vernacular jazz, lindy hop, ladies’ only workshops, run teacher training in Europe and the States, as well as a performance/choreography weekend. She is a passionate and avid dancer, instructor and competitor. Visit her at johoffberg.com.
