Dancing Dreams

I open my mail box, hoping for a paycheck, but no checks today. Just this letter, which made me feel more wonderful than any paycheck could possibly make me feel. With no return address, I was a intrigued- and a hand written address? Oddly the envelope paper felt heavy and slightly soft, I knew this wasn't junk mail. I opened the envelope and deciphered the message. It didn't really hit me until I read the name printed at the bottom of the stationary. 

"Dear Lindsey, I want to personally thank you for your work with the Dancing Dreams program. It means a great deal to so many. Sincerely, Will"

It's not everyday that you get a hand written thank you note. Especially from an executive chairman and most especially when that chairman is William P Lauder.  It's a crazy world out there, I tell ya! I am so grateful for all the wonderful things that have happened to me in my life. And it becomes clearer to me everyday that I am nothing without the people that love me, believe in me and have taken a chance on me.

My Shoe and a dancer's little shoe

For four years I have been doing the makeup for a wonderful organization called Dancing Dreams. Bobbi Brown (owned by Estee Lauder Companies) asked me if I was interested in volunteering to do makeup for their dancers. I thought it sounded fun, and at the time I had no idea how much it would positively effect my life. Dancing Dreams, a Queens-based non-profit, provides classes for aspiring dancers with mental and physical disabilities. It's the dream of these little girls to put on a tutu and glitter—and dance just like other little girls their age. In 2002, Joann Ferrara, a pediatric physical therapist with a background in ballet, was inspired to make the dreams of these girls come true.

The dancers feel so special when the professional makeup artists arrive to help them don their sparkle for their annual dance recital! They love looking in the mirror at their makeup, which mostly consists of glitter- and a little bit of lip gloss and blush. They ooo and ahhh at all of our professional makeup, brushes and tools- a special treat for sure! As we do the makeup the air is teeming with excitement in anticipation for the big performance! They've been working all year for this show!

Catlin Wooters has been volunteering her time with me for the past two years.

Dancing dreams is having a ribbon cutting ceremony at their new Manhattan Location on Monday, May 20th from 3:00-6:00pm at The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th ave. If you would like to attend and learn more about the organization, you can RSVP at info(@)themadmediagroup.com or call 516-659-8704.

Special thank you to Allison Grigg from Estee Lauder and Kim Soane + Cassandra Garcia from Bobbi Brown. Thank you for your love, believing in me and taking a chance on me. It's made all the difference in my life.

L xo