Dear Friends of the Ithaca Dance Gathering,

We hope you have marked your calendars and plan to join us as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Ithaca Dance Gathering next year June 25-28, 2020, once again in the beautiful Arnot Forest near Ithaca, New York!

When we began this event in 1991, we hoped to create a place to share Dances and grow leadership skills together. We didn’t imagine how it would blossom into such a beautiful space to share love with our new-found family. Each year, our community has expanded to include many lovers and leaders of the Dances of Universal Peace from across North America. We have witnessed fledgling leaders develop into wise, seasoned transmitters of this sacred practice, and toddlers grow into gifted dance leaders.

In 2020, we aim to share the experience of the Ithaca Dance Gathering with a member of the new generation of dance leaders involved in the Beyond Initiative. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this inspiring project, details can be found at https://dancesofuniversalpeace.org/wwbeyond.shtm. The goal of the Initiative is to spread peace in a sustainable world by bringing the Dances to people in under-priviledged countries who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience them. The young leaders of the Beyond Initiative are leading dance caravans to countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. As a result of the first year of the Initiative, there are now permanent dance circles in Turkey, Israel, and Iran! They are doing this in partnership with the Global Ecovillage Network.

The Ithaca Dance Gathering plans to open its arms and welcome a young global leader by raising funds to cover transportation and related costs for that person to travel to Ithaca and participate in our 30th anniversary event. Our goal is to raise $3,000 during the next six months. A generous anonymous donor has initiated our first fundraising challenge! This donor has pledged to match every donation we receive during the month of December up to a total of $750. In other words, if we receive $750 in donations during the month of December, our donor will make a matching gift of $750. We will be halfway to our goal! Please join us by making a donation using one of these options:

1. You may contribute online by going to the Dances of Universal Peace International website. DUP IN has kindly offered to receive tax-exempt donations earmarked “Ithaca” and disburse the funds to us.

1. Checks may also be mailed to the Dances of Universal Peace International at PO Box 55994, Seattle, WA 98155-0994. Please write “Ithaca” in the memo line. DUP IN will issue you a tax-exempt receipt.

Even if you are unable to make a donation at this time, we appreciate your prayers and blessings for the success of this endeavor and the 30th anniversary of the Ithaca Dance Gathering.

In Peace and Appreciation,

Rukmini Miller and Yarrow Nelson

Co-Chairs, 30th Anniversary Committee