A Leg Up For Dance Teacher, RJ Mitchell

Many in the competitive youth dance world know RJ as a brilliant dance teacher and choreographer. Over the past 25 years, she has influenced and made a difference in the lives of many young dancers, including my two daughters.

Currently, RJ is temporarily disabled and needs assistance to cover monthly expenses. This past June, RJ lost her eyesight and has been hospitalized twice due to life-threatening complications of high blood pressure (HBP) https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000999.htm Eye surgery is needed to fully restore her vision. It may take 2 surgeries to repair a torn retina and to correct other lingering conditions from HBP that are affecting her vision.

In the meantime, she has been unable to steadily work and to make matters worse, the dance studio where she spent most of her life working is closing on August 1. Between low student enrollment during Covid and beyond, increases in rent over the past 2 years and her recent health crisis she has depleted her savings. With no steady income expected over the next couple of months because of post-surgical restrictions, she will be unable to meet day-to-day and monthly living expenses.

Although the uncertainty of her future is causing her great stress, she has been cleared to have the first surgery on August 1 and she is looking forward to recovery, returning to work and securing her future.

I'm hoping that, together, we can give her a leg up to get through the next couple of months and help make a difference in her life as she has made in the lives of others.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Geier