FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQs for Charity, Applications, and Educational Course

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FAQs for Applicants

What is the “For The Love of Dance Challenge”?

The Love of Dance Challenge has 3 different moving parts. ALL of it is in effort to help the dance industry and SAVE our dance studios.

1- The challenge CHARITY. This is where we raise the money to help save our dance studios. Incredible industry leaders are donating prizes that anyone can enter to win...OR you can just donate for the cause. These prizes are once-in-a lifetime type of experiences that you can win, from experiences, virtual master classes, privates, mentoring, products...and every penny will be given to our studios. PLUS every week MORE will be added...so keep checking back or sign up to stay up to date!

To learn more about the charity sweepstakes, CLICK HERE

2- The Studio Application is to provide COVID-19 relief to dance studios. Dance Studio Owners can apply for FREE to be gifted up to $5000. All the money we raise from the charity is going to dance studios. This is all for the love of dance, because we need to save our studios and come together to help. The more money we raise from the charity challenge...the more studios we can help!

Studio Owners can APPLY HERE

3- The StEPS 2020 Initiative Course. It stands for Studios for Equity, Prevention, and Science. This was created in response to the George Floyd killing and the outcry for change in the system. We can't change the whole world...but we figured we could start with our home first, our beloved dance community. Every dance studio applicant will be required to complete this course. We have provided free educational professional development modules that focus on very important topics for all dance studios to be a safe and equitable space for every dancer. These 4 topics are:

Racism in Dance

Sexual Abuse Prevention in Dance

Dance Science for Dance Studios

Gender Inequity, Inclusion, and Integration in Dance

Because dance studios are not just teaching dancers, they are raising humans. The impact they have on our youth and the culture of dance is huge...while we know we have a long way to go...we hope this course is a step to enacting change for the dance industry.

To learn more about the StEPS 2020 Initiative Course CLICK HERE

When will the application be open?

We will begin accepting applications from studios on June 17th and will accept applications through the close of the event (TBA). This event is going to be going as long as the Love of Dance Challenge keeps getting donors and keeps raising money. So you will read this many times...the more you share, the more you get your dancers and network involved...the more money we can raise and the more studios we can help!

Who is eligible to apply?

We encourage all licensed/registered dance studios in the United States who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to apply.

We wish we could open it up to international studios, however, it is very tricky to gift money out of the country. However, the exciting aspect for international dancers is many of the prizes are virtual! Dancers from all over the world can win incredible one-on-one time with incredible teachers, choreographers, and mentors they otherwise may never have. Many choreographers are offering a master class for the studio of the winner too! So no matter where you live in the world you could win a free master class from incredible instructors all over the world! So please encourage studios all over the world to participate!

If you are a dance studio that does not need the money, please consider donating instead of applying so there is a greater chance the money will go to those most deeply in need. There will be 3 steps to be considered a qualified and complete application.

What is the application process?

There is a 3 part application process. All 3 parts of the application must be completed in order to be eligible to receive funding.

Part I-online application: Each question must be completed in order to submit the application. CLICK HERE to complete the application now.

Part II-video submission: Please create a video and be sure to answer the questions below. This video can be as simple as a selfie video from your phone or get as creative as you would like! We want to get to know you and learn your story!  

When filming your video, be sure to answer the following questions in your video

    • Introduce yourself and your studio name
    • Briefly tell us about your journey as a studio owner
    • What makes your studio unique?
    • How has COVID-19 impacted your business?
    • How would this financial gift be used...what would this gift mean to your business?

After Part I of your application has been submitted, you will receive an email from Fortheloveofdancechallenge@gmail.com with instructions on how to upload your video. Once the video is emailed to the link provided and the online application has been submitted, your application is complete.  

Part III- Complete the StEPS Course:

As part of our commitment to creating a safe space for all dancers, we will ask each studio applicant to complete a StEPS Initiative Course (Studios for Equity, Protection, and Science). This is a 4 part, virtual course series that provides educational lessons, resources and actionable items to implement in the studio setting:

      • Racism in Dance
      • Gender Equity & Inclusion in Dance
      • Sex Abuse Prevention in Dance
      • Dance Science

The goal in creating this course is to give dance teachers continuing education with actionable items that can unite dance studios focused on equality and creating a safe space for every dancer. This course gives evidence based, perspective, and history that can help you either learn something new to help progress and strengthen your studio or solidify what you already do. There is something for everyone! This course is free for applicants (through either Apolla covering the costs or the experts donating their materials). None of these courses are beyond introductions and actionable items for you. Each topic is deep and this is just a first step for some of us in these areas. So we also provide many resources that can allow you to expand your journey further in any of the subjects. With all that 2020 has thrown at all of us, we are determined to heal through listening, grow from the adversity through action, and rise up by bring everyone together for an incredible cause...saving our studios. In the end, we will create a wide open space for the new generation of artists and athletes to ring in the new decade stronger and safer than ever!

All 3 parts of the application process must be completed in order for a studio to be eligible to receive funding.

What happens after I submit my application? When will the money be disbursed?

Once you have completed all THREE parts of the application, you will be considered a complete application.

Once considered COMPLETE, each applicant will be vetted thoroughly to make sure they are a registered US business that will be operational in the fall, being considered complete AND eligible.

Each complete AND eligible applicant will go into a pool from which the studios will be chosen by a lottery.  

Every 30 days we will have a lottery to determine the selected studios for the each round of disbursement.

We will be raising funds from the Love of Dance Challenge Charity. All the money raised throughout the course of each month will be divided up among applicants selected via lottery.

Any applicants not selected will go back into the eligible pool of candidates and be entered into the lottery for the next round. You will NOT need to reapply.

Applicants can complete and submit their application at any time while the challenge is still going, however, the sooner you submit, the more chances you have to be selected with every distribution round. There is not a date this will end, so we don't know how many disbursements we will be able to make.

Every donor that steps up to the challenge will be nominating 3 more donors. This means we will keep adding new prizes each week, which gives more opportunities for people to donate and win! We won't stop until we run out of donors and money. That is why it will be very important as a community we come together and share, share, share this challenge throughout your network, social media, and let them know to donate...the more money we raise, the more studios we can help!

Can I use my Social Security Number as my taxpayer ID when applying for this gift?

No, your business or nonprofit must be registered as a legal entity with an EIN.

How much will each dance studio receive?

This depends on the total of money raised from this event. The more we raise, the more we can gift. Each studio selected will receive an amount of money (TBD) up to $5000. We really are doing all of this to help, so again, please make sure this is shared as far and wide as possible to keep the momentum going and help us raise money for our beloved community and your fellow studio owners. We are together stronger!

We advise any studio to contact their CPA to determine tax implications for their business up to that amount of money.

Who is reviewing applications?

Each dance studio that applies to receive a monetary gift will be thoroughly vetted by Apolla Performance Wear and DAC to ensure they are an established and active business that will use the funds for business purposes.

Apolla Performance Wear and Dance Arts Centre will not be receiving any compensation or funding from the proceeds raised from this event. Everything we are doing is volunteer. The money from the charity will be going directly into an account for DAC and then disbursed directly from that account. The money will never coexist with any other funds from Apolla or DAC nor will Apolla ever have control over the money.

Once all applications have been vetted thoroughly, the winning applicants will be chosen from a lottery to eliminate an possibility of bias.

Throughout the course of this challenge, we will be sharing applicant stories, how COVID-19 has impacted their business, and how this money will help them get back on their feet.  

Who is Dance Arts Centre?

Dance Arts Centre (DAC) is a nonprofit dance school serving Brevard County, FL with facilities in in Melbourne and Indian Harbour Beach. DAC’s mission is to promote positive change in the lives of youth through creative movement and the arts. Their core purpose is to make dance fun, affordable, and accessible to all – regardless of one’s economic status. You can learn more about their mission HERE.

Dance Arts Centre will not be receiving any of the money donated to this event.

When will the studios that are selected receive the money?

Within 1 week of the monthly disbursement, all selected studio gift recipients will receive communication via email to setup the transfer of funds. Apolla Performance will announce the winners on their social media platforms so make sure you are following @apollaperformance.

What inspired this challenge? Why are you we doing this?

People keep asking us...WHY are you doing all of this?! That is quite an undertaking! Are you crazy?! ;-) To which we laugh and say nothing we have done so far as a company has ever been the easy path...but it has always been for a cause we feel a calling to answer...to help dancers.

As lifelong dancers, we know dance studios are the foundation of our training & instill the love of dance in the artists of tomorrow. Being the daughter of a dance studio owner of 41 years and single mom, our COO Kaycee Jones also identifies with the passion and struggle dance studio owners face. If this had hit her mom's studio before she retired, it would have devastated their entire family. So this is personal for us and hits close to home. Dance educators are second parents, role models, & teach so much more than just steps and the dance studio is a home away from home. Like so many in our industry, many dance studio owners around the globe are facing severe financial challenges, and some even making the tough decision to close their doors. Without dance studios, there are no clients for independent artists, no conventions/competitions, no costume companies, no retailers…no dancers being trained from that small town that could grow to be our next principal dancer or have dance make a positive impact on their life. They are the key to our industry coming back strong.

Apolla is a company that is built on creating a loyal and loving community, focused on providing support to dancers inside and outside the studio. We felt the calling to step up and rally our amazing community, dedicate anything we can to bring the dance world together, and save some dance studios. Everyone has a story of how their dance studio impacted their life. You can hear from each of our donors in each of their videos on their donation page.

Where will we be if these staples of our industry disappear? There is so much darkness in the world right now and this is our small way to help and shine a light...but we need your help...we need to come together...and remember we are stronger together. <3

How do I get to the Course?

CLICK HERE to go to the StEPS 2020 Initiative Course

FAQs for DONATIONS & SWEEPSTAKES

What IS the Love of Dance challenge?

The Love of Dance Challenge has 3 different moving parts. ALL of it is in effort to help the dance industry and SAVE our dance studios.

1- The challenge CHARITY. This is where we raise the money to help save our dance studios. Incredible industry leaders are donating prizes that anyone can enter to win...OR you can just donate for the cause. These prizes are once-in-a lifetime type of experiences that you can win, from experiences, virtual master classes, privates, mentoring, products...and every penny will be given to our studios. PLUS every week MORE will be added...so keep checking back or sign up to stay up to date!

To learn more about the charity sweepstakes, CLICK HERE

2- The Studio Application is to provide COVID-19 relief to dance studios. Dance Studio Owners can apply for FREE to be gifted up to $5000. All the money we raise from the charity is going to dance studios. This is all for the love of dance, because we need to save our studios and come together to help. The more money we raise from the charity challenge...the more studios we can help!

Studio Owners can APPLY HERE

3- The StEPS 2020 Initiative Course. It stands for Studios for Equity, Prevention, and Science. This was created in response to the George Floyd killing and the outcry for change in the system. We can't change the whole world...but we figured we could start with our home first, our beloved dance community. Every dance studio applicant will be required to complete this course. We have provided free educational professional development modules that focus on very important topics for all dance studios to be a safe and equitable space for every dancer. These 4 topics are:

Racism in Dance

Sexual Abuse Prevention in Dance

Dance Science for Dance Studios

Gender Inequity, Inclusion, and Integration in Dance

Because dance studios are not just teaching dancers, they are raising humans. The impact they have on our youth and the culture of dance is huge...while we know we have a long way to go...we hope this course is a step to enacting change for the dance industry.

To learn more about the StEPS 2020 Initiative Course CLICK HERE

What inspired this challenge?

People keep asking us...WHY are you doing all of this?! That is quite an undertaking! Are you crazy?! ;-) To which we laugh and say nothing we have done so far as a company has ever been the easy path...but it has always been for a cause we feel a calling to answer...to help dancers.

As lifelong dancers, we know dance studios are the foundation of our training & instill the love of dance in the artists of tomorrow. Being the daughter of a dance studio owner of 41 years and single mom, our COO Kaycee Jones also identifies with the passion and struggle dance studio owners face. If this had hit her mom's studio before she retired, it would have devastated their entire family. So this is personal for us and hits close to home. Dance educators are second parents, role models, & teach so much more than just steps and the dance studio is a home away from home. Like so many in our industry, many dance studio owners around the globe are facing severe financial challenges, and some even making the tough decision to close their doors. Without dance studios, there are no clients for independent artists, no conventions/competitions, no costume companies, no retailers…no dancers being trained from that small town that could grow to be our next principal dancer or have dance make a positive impact on their life. They are the key to our industry coming back strong.

Apolla is a company that is built on creating a loyal and loving community, focused on providing support to dancers inside and outside the studio. We felt the calling to step up and rally our amazing community, dedicate anything we can to bring the dance world together, and save some dance studios. Everyone has a story of how their dance studio impacted their life. You can hear from each of our donors in each of their videos on their donation page.

Where will we be if these staples of our industry disappear? There is so much darkness in the world right now and this is our small way to help and shine a light...but we need your help...we need to come together...and remember we are stronger together. <3

What are the accepted methods of payment?

All major credit cards, debit cards, Apply Pay, and Google Pay. All payments will be in USD.

Am I able to make a cash donation without entering to win a prize?

Of course! CLICK HERE to donate cash.

We welcome monetary donations from individuals, businesses, and corporations. No amount of money is too small and there couldn’t be a more worthy cause.

How do I know my donation is secure?

The “For The Love Of Dance” Challenge will be hosted through Rallyup.com. RallyUp takes the privacy of donors, organizations, and all other fundraising participants seriously. They’ve implemented the following best practices to protect the personal data of everyone who uses our platform:

  1. How are payments processed?

All payments on RallyUp are completely secure and are processed directly via Stripe and PayPal. Payment information is never stored on (or even passed through) RallyUp servers.

  1. Is my donor's data secure?

RallyUp’s strict privacy policies ensure that your donors’ personal information and other data is never sold or otherwise provided to third parties.

  1. Is my credit card data secure?

Credit card transactions are processed securely by Stripe, a trusted PCI Level 1 processor that transacts billions of dollars every year for some of the world's largest companies.

Is my donation tax-deductible?

All donations are tax-deductible for donors who are US taxpayers since this project has been qualified for 501(c)(3) equivalency status. The tax-exempt ID number for DAC is 26-0455076. Once you make a donation, you will receive a confirmation of your donation that will act as your receipt.

We recommend donors outside the US consult their own tax advisor regarding the applicability of any state, local, and foreign tax laws.

How do I know my donation is being put to good use?

Each dance studio that applies to receive a monetary gift will be thoroughly vetted to ensure they are an established and active business that will use the funds for business purposes. Additionally, all applicants are required to complete a 4-module educational series curated by leading professionals to create a safe dance space by introducing education, resources, and actionable items focused on racism, equality, sex abuse prevention, and dance science in the dance studio. You can learn more about the 2020 StEPS (Studios for Equality, Prevention, & Science) educational course HERE.  

Apolla was created to HELP dancers and give support inside AND outside the studio. We feel the calling to shine a light in this darkness and DO something we can control, to give help where we can, starting with our home, the dance community.

Throughout this challenge, you will see videos that introduce the story of each applicant, how COVID-19 has impacted their business, and how this money will help them get back on their feet. You are welcome to follow Apolla on social media (@apollaperformance on FB and Instagram and @Apollawear on Twitter) so you can continue to see the impact the money raised has and who it is benefitting.

When will I find out if I won a prize?

Once the sweepstakes close on Rallyup.com we are required to leave it open for 3 business days for mail-in entries to arrive. On the 4th business day after the campaign closes the Rallyup.com system randomly selects the winner. Winners will be notified by email and you will also receive an email letting you know if you did NOT win. It will be important to check your email because winners will be notified via email with instructions on how to redeem their prize.

Who is Dance Arts Centre?

Dance Arts Centre (DAC) is a nonprofit dance school serving Brevard County, FL with facilities in Melbourne and Indian Harbour Beach. DAC’s mission is to promote positive change in the lives of youth through creative movement and the arts. Their core purpose is to make dance fun, affordable, and accessible to all – regardless of one’s economic status. You can learn more about their mission HERE.

Dance Arts Centre will not be receiving any of the money donated to this event.

When will the studios receive this money?

We hope this challenge will be able to go on for several months. Each month we will gather the funds raised from donations and will do a round of disbursing the money to the applicants that have completed their applications. Applicants that have qualified will be put into a lottery to select the studios to be gifted. Each round we will keep those applicants in the pile that were not selected on previous rounds and will remain eligible for all subsequent rounds and will not have to re-apply. We want to get as much money raised so we can help as many studios as possible! As long as we keep raising money we will keep making disbursements to qualified applicants. Apolla Performance will never have contact with the money and there will be no bias in picking the winners. Apolla Performance will announce the winners on their social media platforms as well.

How do I make sure I receive my prize?

All donors have signed contracts with the products they are donating and have committed to donating the prizes in the challenge. Each prize has its own terms and conditions so be sure to read thoroughly before submitting your entries. It will be important to check your email because winners will be notified via email with instructions on how to redeem their prize.

Am I able to select which prize I want to enter to win?

Yes...you will be able to choose which prize contest you want to enter. You can submit as many entries as you would like for as many different prizes as you would like. Each person that is donating will be their own campaign. You can see all sweepstakes that can be entered here: Main Challenge Page

How many entries do I get?

The number of entries depends on the amount you donate. You will get more entries the more you donate, so you get more bang for your buck the more you donate. ;-) You also get free entries for sharing and if those shares result in donations. So make sure you share!

Who can enter to win? I live outside the US

The Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, countries in the EU, U.K., and Canada who are 18 (except 19 in Alabama and Nebraska and 21 in Mississippi) years of age as of the date of entry or of legal age of majority or older in their country of residence. Canadian winners will be required to correctly answer a mathematical skill testing question as a condition of receiving a prize.

So dancers under 18 or 19 (see state requirements above) you will need your parents to enter for you!

Sweepstakes is void in Cuba, Islamic Republic Of Iran, Iraq, Democratic People's Republic Of Korea, Myanmar, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, the Provence of Quebec, and any place where offering the sweepstakes or the awarding of a prize is prohibited. All international, federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law.

Why is this so special?

This is not a competition, this is not just asking you to donate your money to any cause that may not impact you...this not only gives dancers all over the world the chance to win INCREDIBLE prizes, but those entries raise money to save dance studios! So it is a win-win all around. Make sure you keep checking back each week as more and more prizes become available, the majority of these prizes will be able to be redeemed virtually...can you imagine winning one on one privates or master classes from the top choreographers in the world! It is uplifting and exciting for everyone!

FAQS FOR THE EDUCATIONAL COURSE

What is the StEPS 2020 Initiative Course?

To go to the Course CLICK HERE

As part of our commitment to creating a safe space for all dancers, each studio applicant applying to receive the financial COVID-19 Relief from the funds raised by the For the Love of Dance Challenge, part 3 of the application process is we are requiring to completion of the StEPS 2020 Initiative Course. This is an educational course has been curated by Apolla from experts and professionals in each topic.

Topics/Chapters of the Course:

Racism in Dance
Sexual Abuse Awareness, Prevention & Response
Bringing Dance Science to the Studio
Gender, Inclusion, & Integration in Dance
 

Our goal in creating this course is to give dance teachers continuing education with actionable items that can unite dance studios focused on equity and creating a safe space for every dancer. This course gives evidence-based information, some perspective & qualitative information, dance history, and further resources that can help you either learn something new to help progress and strengthen your studio or solidify what you already do. There is something for everyone!

This course is free for applicants (through either Apolla covering the costs or the presenters donating their materials). These are meant to be introductions and actionable items for you. We know this is not a silver bullet to fix every issue or topic that needs to be addressed in dance. Each topic is deep and broad. However, we aim for this to be the first step for some of us in these topics. We then also provide many resources that can allow you to expand your journey further in any of the subjects. With all that 2020 has thrown at all of us, we are determined to heal through listening, grow from adversity through action, and rise up by bringing everyone together for an incredible cause...saving our studios. In the end, we will create a space open wide for the new generation of artists and athletes to ring in the new decade stronger and safer than ever!

For all questions on the course

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