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My Body Raqs

Helping survivors thrive through the art of bellydance

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My Body Raqs

My Body Raqs

My Body Raqs

My Body Raqs

My Body Raqs

Helping survivors thrive through the art of bellydance

Helping survivors thrive through the art of bellydance

Helping survivors thrive through the art of bellydance

Helping survivors thrive through the art of bellydance

Jennifer 'Elaia' LaFleur
Jennifer 'Elaia' LaFleur
Jennifer 'Elaia' LaFleur
Jennifer 'Elaia' LaFleur
1 Campaign |
Charlottesville, United States
$1,500 USD by 35 backers
$1,500 USD by 35 backers on Mar 26, 2015
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Inspiration

My name is Jennifer LaFleur. I'm a graduate student, daughter, partner, knitter, cat owner, mess maker, food lover, sometime singer, impatient seamstress, yoga practitioner, enthusiastic traveller, and all around lover of life. I am also a professional bellydancer, performing as Elaia, and a two-time breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in 2011 at the age of 31 and again in 2014 at 35, with no family history. Surprise! (You can see my account of the experience, written largely and intermittently to update family and friends, at surprisecancer.blogspot.com.)

When I was recovering from treatment the first time around--chemo and lumpectomy and radiation--I wondered rather casually if there was something unique to my skillset that I could do for the unfortunately ever-growing population of cancer survivors. An unexpected answer dawned on me suddenly and felt right immediately: I could offer bellydance! After all, physical activity is good for body and soul, and beginning bellydance is low-impact, accessible to all ages and body types, as well as loads of fun. And it's something that I am not only able but also excited to share. Brilliant!

As often happens, though, circumstances (positive ones, luckily) required that I put the notion aside for a while and over time it lost its urgency... That is, until I was recovering from the treatment of my second diagnosis--this time a mastectomy and free flap reconstruction. It was, in fact, the drastic surgical alteration of my body that led me back in a rush to the notion of offering dance to survivors, as I realized what a project it was going to be to make this new body feel like mine, like me. It's an ongoing process of learning and accepting what's different and integrating those changes into a whole self that is more than cancer, more than loss, more than scars. This emotional aspect of recovery in addition to my own need to rebuild strength, stamina, and range of motion after surgery led me to revisit and grow my notion of what I have to offer. And so My Body Raqs was born.

My Body Raqs is bellydance with a mindful twist. Its focus is dance technique and choreography at a gentle pace designed for those recovering from treatment. It is offered in a mode that invites careful physical and emotional attention to the body--how it moves, how it feels, what is new, what is familiar. We will open with space for sharing and close with reflection; in the middle will be all the movement and fun and laughter we can manage!  

My short-term mission is to provide a series of eight classes free of charge to survivors in my area, which is Charlottesville, Virginia. Although my experience is with breast cancer, I am extending this invitation to survivors of any cancer, as we share many of the same challenges and I want to benefit as many interested people as possible. I would like to offer this series at least twice in the next calendar year, more if the funds are available, and use this time to test and improve the curriculum. If the program is successful, I would love to expand our reach into other communities in Virginia and beyond.

I have big ideas for the future. Possibilities include:  developing workshops of varying lengths, based on the original eight-week series, that I could take on the road; collaborating with providers of complimentary services to provide low- or no-cost weekend retreats; training other bellydance instructors in the My Body Raqs curriculum; connecting interested instructors with survivors in their area; perhaps even working to address the needs of people recovering from other kinds of trauma.

If we do continue to grow, I will consider applying for support from a fiscal sponsor or incorporating as an independent non-profit so that I can offer donors 501(c)3 tax exemption, thereby enabling me to attract larger donations and corporate sponsorships. 

But that is all for another time... For now, I am focused on making this experience as excellent as possible for my local fellow survivors.

What We Need
The classes themselves I offer freely. Your donations would make them possible by helping me reach potential participants with the design and supply of marketing materials and a website, which is just waiting to be built at www.mybodyraqs.org!  

You can also make the experience truly special by allowing us to rent a lovely studio space instead of using a free room at the hospital or university. And if we can afford it I would love to provide some gifts to the dancers: I have in mind a hip scarf, a journal, and possibly also a t-shirt, which I hope either way to have for sale as another means of supporting the project.

I've set a modest goal for my immediate, local ambitions--a too-modest goal, I think, for how passionate I am about the potential for this to make a difference. What I need more than anything is to know whether other people share my excitement, so if you love this idea and want to see it in your community, help me get started! 

I will proceed with at least one series even if I don't reach my stated goal, so your money will help cancer survivors no matter what else happens. Any money raised beyond that target, up to $2000, will be invested into improving and extending My Body Raqs this year in Charlottesville--another series of classes, swankier gift bags, better marketing. If I raise more than that, I will have seed money to grow into the future.  How big and how awesome this becomes is up to you!  

Whether or not you can give, please help me spread the word by sharing this link or liking us on Facebook.  Or both!

Thank you so very much!


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