Teens organize dance shoe donations to give kids legs up

As budding dancers, Yuba City teens Heather Chavez and Darian Stranix say they can't imagine not being able to do what they love.

So in their minds, to collect dozens of used pairs of dance shoes in Marysville and elsewhere to fix up and eventually donate to Yuba County Recreation for less-fortunate dance class students to use just shares their appreciation with others.

"We know the teachers, and we know they can teach a lot," says Chavez, who'll turn 16 Saturday, of why she and Stranix are spending their summer collecting used slippers and espadrilles.

She and Stranix both struggle to put into words why they like dancing, but they've both done it for six years.

"It's about being able to express yourself," says Stranix, 13.

Chavez says the idea for the shoe drive began when she saw a story online about a Florida girl who collected more than 100 shoes in a similar effort. After they heard recreation dance classes were lacking in participants because the economy made it hard for parents to afford the instruction and the shoes, they made the collection idea local.

Starting tap shoes can cost from $30 to $70 for a pair. Shoes for other dance styles can be even more.

A friend who prints playbills made a couple hundred posters and flyers to promote the shoe drive, and the teens also started a Facebook page and tipped off friends and family.

They also put collection boxes at several places, including the Friday Night Live building in downtown Marysville.

After they explained their cause to the manager at Capezio, a Sacramento dance store, she sold them $350 worth of new shoes for about $40.

"With the cost of the dance shoes and the price of dance classes, if the parents can't afford it then they can't do it," says store manager Sheila Wolf, who also has a collection box. "We usually try to help out with things like that."

The girls say they'll take donations through Aug. 10. Between what is already been donated and what is promised from the lost and found at Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts, which both Chavez and Stranix attend, they've so far collected more than 100 pairs.

Once the collection is done, the teens say they will use shoe polish and whatever else is needed to give the shoes a fresh look, then give them to the rec program.

Cheyenne Balderama, the program coordinator, says she was stunned when Chavez and Stranix told her of their plans.

"Some people have been concerned about where they can go to buy equipment," she said. "I'm hoping by the shoes being available, it might bring in more people."

The shoe drive will end partly because Stranix and Chavez are going back to school. But they are already talking about restarting it next summer, and expanding it to include items like tights and leotards.

To the teens, the time and energy spent is no more wasted than hours of practicing spins and jumps at dance practice.

"Dance is part of my life," Chavez says. "So this is just part of that."

HOW TO HELP

Used dance shoes can be dropped off at a collection box at Friday Night Live, 301 Fourth St., Marysville, during business hours. Shoes will be collected through Aug. 10.

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at 749-4709 or bvandermeer@ appealdemocrat.com.