2011 Brings New and Exciting Opportunities

Written By Lindsy Donahue “Miss Lindsy”

This next year I will officially return to the Dello’s family! I began taking class from Mrs. Dove at age 11 as a scholarship student and eventually started teaching at Dello’s shortly after graduating high school.

In figuring out my journey I left the studio to pursue some music projects of my own as well as finish college. Thankfully I was
pointed back into the direction of teaching and Dello’s was exactly where I fit in. I was offered to teach a few classes at Dello’s
Performing Arts in Chino Hills during my last semester of college, which was a springboard for my next endeavor. As I partner with an
incredibly talented and hard working staff I look forward for what is to come in this next year. Before moving forward I feel it is necessary to reflect on the past few years, which has brought me back to my roots.

I have officially graduated college, which has been one of the most amazing and interesting journey and season in my life. It has been full of joys, excitements, frustrations, hard work, deadlines, celebrations, and dedication. Beyond endless nights of studying and writing as well as growing a familiarity with scholar jargon, receiving my bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communications has not just brought me education in this field of study.

College has taught me time management, balance and maintenance of relationships, responsibility, living on my own, budgeting, stress management, and most of all trust in the Lord.

My journey through college has been a unique experience, which I am very thankful for. I graduated high school in 2005 and went to a
Chaffey Community College for two years, which was a very positive experience. I was a part of the Puente program, which focused on Chicano studies as well as mentorship with each student. I also was accepted into the honors program where I completed honors courses required, which guaranteed my admittance to 10 prestigious colleges. My plan was to transfer to USC for their communication program, but God had a different direction for me.

After two years at Chaffey College I took a year off of school due to an amazing job offer. I took the position as developing the visual communication department at Active Ride Shop. I was one of the four regional visual merchandisers in charge of 8 stores as well as opening new stores in San Diego. I coordinated and hosted quarterly visual
training meetings at each store assigned district, as well as worked closely with the marketing and buying department to execute visual merchandise strategy within each region. This was an amazing opportunity for me to develop many skills. Although the position was teaching me a lot and providing financially for me, I was yearning to going back to being a poor college student:)

I missed the classroom. I missed the challenge from the professors. I wanted more! After much prayer and consideration I left my position after one solid year and headed back to Chaffey to finish my final
classes to transfer to USC, but after visiting Azusa Pacific University I felt God�s leading to the school. I was so confused. What about MY plans to go to USC?!

As I continued to pray and search my heart I committed to Azusa Pacific University. I moved in with my best friend and lived with
four other wonderful young women. It was the beginning of a new season!

Azusa Pacific has challenged my faith, pushed me to excellence with education, relationships and service to others. I have been a part of the honors society Lambda Pie Eta as well as became an advocate for victims of sex trafficking. In January of 2010 I was enrolled in my senior seminar with Professor Lang and she pushed us to write about issues we cared about or stirred in our hearts. Through prayer and thought I decided to write about the sexualization of women and how it
links to the rising epidemic of women and children trapped in sexual slavery. Through my research I connected with a professor at APU who had developed her own foundation that fights human trafficking, which lead to me working for her non-profit, Worldteam Foundation, as their events coordinator.

In the past five years going to school I have worked. I have worked with dance, coordinating events, sales, fashion, as well as advocating for women and children in sex trafficking. I also continued to train in Los Angeles at Millennium Dance Complex and Edge Performing Arts where I studied and interned under professional dancer and choreographer Leslie Scott. I was fortunate enough to perform in various student films, Carnival’s Ball in Hollywood, Gina Starbuck’s benefit ART4LIFE, church art shows, upcoming R&B artist B-POND’s music video, as well as star in my first music video for Elle D, current
singing project. I love the art of movement as well as teaching, and I believe a dance class should be a sanctuary and allow dancers to express themselves freely.

Now the question every graduate dreads, “SO what’s next!?” As if we are not suppose to indulge in the accomplishment of receiving our degree! No, having a plan and goal is very important in which I have been praying for months.

I just met with the art director at Azusa Pacific University because they do not have a dance program, and I am trying to see if I could partner with them in developing it. This would require me to get my M.F.A in dance, which I am researching. I am thankful for my education and have learned a lot, and thought I would try to further my education in communications and teach at the college level, but as I have searched my heart I cannot ignore that my true passion is dance! If I could make a living coupling my teaching, education in communications and dance that would be incredible!

My experience at Chaffey College and Azusa Pacific, as well as the year I took off to work, shaped and molded my ideologies, beliefs, educational, and personal growth. I owe it to numerous professors who have changed my life. They have pushed and believed in me these past five years in times and seasons that were wonderful and very difficult.

One of my favorite authors, Shauna Ninquest articulates it perfectly, “It’s the practice of believing that we really do need both the
bitter and the sweet, and that a life of nothing but sweetness rots both your teeth and your soul. Bitter is what makes us strong, what forces us to push through, what helps us earn the lines on our faces and the calluses on our hands. Sweet is nice enough, but bittersweet is beautiful, nuanced, full of depth and complexity. Bittersweet is
courageous, gutsy and audacious.”

I am excited to wrap up this “bittersweet” season and see what God has in store for my future. The few classes I began teaching a few months ago have allowed me to revisit my passion for teaching., which I am beyond appreciative for. Mr. And Mrs. Dellos and Dove have been a huge source of encouragement and I am beyond thankful for their partnership. I am excited for this next season, as I will dedicate my time, talents, and energy back into what feeds my soul.DANCE!