Blue Lapis Light Receives $50,000 Grant to Built Permanent Home in Austin

Blue Lapis Light, a site-specific aerial dance company known for flying off buildings, has been creating transcendent works of beauty in the air for the last 8 years. In 2013 the company lost its rented studio due to growing development in Austin. After much consideration, their solution was to purchase 2.75 acres in South Austin where the company will build a permanent home for themselves and their art form. They have envisioned a custom 3,000 square foot studio space to be used for rehearsals, classes, youth programming and performances. This space will be a state-of-the-art, green studio designed primarily for aerial dance.

Their dream is becoming a reality, thanks to individuals contributing nearly $13,ooo to the company's recent Indiegogo Campaign and a generous $50,000 grant from the Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston, TX. These funds are a great start on the approximately $150,000 needed to construct the studio building. "BLL has become an intrinsic part of the Austin arts community," says Artistic Director Sally Jacques, "and each of our donors, audience members, volunteers and students has a hand in building our new home. Every little bit helps. We are especially grateful to the Brown Foundation for their substantial donation to jump start this project."

The new studio will not only help with the company's intricate rehearsal needs, but it will also enable BLL to host more aerial dance classes, providing more individuals with exposure to this intriguing dance form, and creating an income stream that enables the company to be less dependent on donors.

More about Blue Lapis Light: Blue Lapis Light is a site-specific aerial dance company, founded in 2005 by Artistic Director Sally Jacques in Austin, Texas. Our vision is to create transcendent works of beauty that are offered, without religious denomination, as prayers for the planet. Using aerial techniques informed by classical, interpretive and modern dance, BLL is committed to challenging physical limitations and inspiring our audiences with a sense of wonder. In addition to creating large-scale performances and conducting Youth Taking Flight, BLL teaches aerial dance classes for students of all ages and levels year round.

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