Instructor’s ‘Dancing for Donations’ spawns a treat for special needs kids in Brandon – Tampa Bay Online

BRANDON — Sara Battaglia’s love for dancing and generous heart has launched a feet-driven fundraising effort.

When Battaglia first began holding free dance classes in her native Port Charlotte, she decided to ask parents for a small donation to go directly to a different charity each month.

As a busy college student and dance teacher at four different locations, she wanted to volunteer, but simply didn’t have the time.

Battaglia, however, never anticipated a growing group of special needs families seeking those classes. Now, as the holidays approach, more and more Brandon parents have their children “dancing for donations.”

“I started it in Port Charlotte where I’m from with a similar program but it didn’t necessarily have special needs kids involved,” Battaglia said. “When I moved to Tampa for school and started teaching at different studios and I wanted to do it here.”

Initially, Dancing for Donations was operating out of the Moose Lodge in Valrico. But through the guidance of her students’ parents, they connected to We Rock the Spectrum owner Michelle Kapusta and began having classes at that location.

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