FreeBox Fundraisers

An invitation to join other North County dancers and raise the roof… on a school in Africa

Encinitas, CA–Dancers and non-dancers alike are invited to participate in a Sunday-evening “Freebox” creative dance and movement workshop on April 6 at 7:30pm at Dance North County 535 Encinitas Blvd. #100, with a share of proceeds going toward building a school in Malawi, Africa .

“Sometimes,” says Freebox creator Mary Pinizzotto, “I think we should call it a ‘playshop’, not a ‘workshop’.”

Pinizzotto was one of America’s top competitive ballroom dancers, but now her passion is using dance to foster a sense of community, not competition by making dance accessible to everyone. Her Freebox dance workshops are not dance classes, but movement experiences.

In a typical Freebox session, participants are encouraged to express their uncensored creativity and hold “unconditional positive” regard for themselves and each other. They dance alone, with others, and as part of the entire group. The Freebox is not about performance, but about recapturing a playful, expressive way of dancing and moving that most people haven’t experienced since childhood, so there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

Weekday sessions have been held for the last few months, and regular ‘freeboxers’ find them to be a workout for body, mind, and spirit. It’s a great way to round out a yoga practice or for dancers to expand their range of movement, but it’s certainly not limited to people with dance, yoga (or indeed any) specialized experience. All are welcome, and all are equally valued. The only prerequisite is an open mind.

“When I heard that Laura Swan, community member and Youth Director at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, was raising money for her and some of the kids to go to Africa to help build a school, I got very excited about the opportunity to put the Freebox mentality into action,” says Pinizzotto. “The Freebox isn’t just a physical movement practice, it’s a movement of minds, souls and people.”

For millennia, people have danced together to celebrate, acknowledge and honor the transcendent, and to connect to a larger community. When a community is dancing, the community is happy. The Freebox is a culture of relaxed, confident individuality inextricably woven into profound connection.

A majority of the proceeds raised by this event will go toward sending Laura, and others from participating Spiritual Centers in Southern California to Africa, where they will build a much-needed school. They’ve partnered with “Building with Books” (www.buildingwithbooks.org), a non-profit and non-religious affiliated organization, which over the last 15 years has built more than 180 schools for children in developing countries. Please visit their site and see what a significant impact they are having on the world’s youth.

The school will cost approximately $18,000, which includes the cost of books and hiring teachers for 3 years, plus the guarantee that it will function optimally for 3 years with the support of the Malawi government and Building with Books.

This summer, a group of 28 brave adults and youth will embark on a journey across the globe to the Kusungu district of Malawi. They will help construct the school, and in the process, will learn from our African brothers and sisters, and bring what they learn back to our local community. “We know that this experience will touch our lives deeply, and all those who we help. We hope our experience encourages other youth and adults to get involved once we return, and shows them that a little bit of giving can make a profound difference to others in the world.” Says Ms. Swan.

The Freebox is held at 535 Encinitas Blvd. #100 at the Dance North County studio. Participants are asked to bring a bottle of water and wear comfortable clothing like for yoga, but maybe a little more funky. No street shoes will be allowed on the dance floor, so plan on bare feet, socks or soft soled dance shoes.

For those interested in attending, please visit www.thefreebox.wordpress.com for a more detailed description of what to expect or contact Mary Pinizzotto at 760-809-6279 or thefreebox[at]gmail.com