'Let them eat pie': Dance studio raises funds and collects canned goods for food pantry

NEW BEDFORD — Attitude Academy of the Performing Arts dancers will be serving up a pie in the face to one of their instructors, but it's all in the spirit of helping out a local food pantry.

Dance studio owner Toni Contois said she has always instilled in her dance students the “love of dance, joy and community service.” Besides working on their technique and learning new choreography, the studio chooses a focus topic each month. For November, students are participating in a month-long fundraiser for the Murphy and Others Living Independently for Future Endeavors (M.O. L.I.F.E.) Food Pantry downtown.

Attitude Academy of the Performing Arts is raising funds for M.O. L.I.F.E. Food Pantry as part of the November community service project.
Attitude Academy of the Performing Arts is raising funds for M.O. L.I.F.E. Food Pantry as part of the November community service project.

For the "Let Them Eat Pie" fundraiser, the studio is collecting spare change and canned goods through Nov. 30 to benefit the food pantry. In addition, students, families and friends will vote with their donations for the dance instructor they would like to see get a pie in the face on Dec. 2.

Students, families and friends of Attitude Academy of the Performing Arts vote for which dance instructor they'd like to see get a pie in the face.
Students, families and friends of Attitude Academy of the Performing Arts vote for which dance instructor they'd like to see get a pie in the face.

“It’s a fun activity for the students,” Contois said. “It gets them involved.”

In previous years, Contois has held fundraiser events for a scholarship for senior students, but she wanted to contribute to a larger cause and think bigger.

“I want my dancers to be well-rounded people,” Contois said. “We don’t just train for acro and dance technique, we focus on the importance of becoming a professional person in life.”

Attitude Academy of the Performing Arts dancers don't just focus on dance and technique, they're also groomed in becoming contributors to the community, according to the owner of the studio.
Attitude Academy of the Performing Arts dancers don't just focus on dance and technique, they're also groomed in becoming contributors to the community, according to the owner of the studio.

While students are urged to bring in “couch change,” Contois would love to see community involvement through monetary donations and canned goods dropped off in person, as she would love to thank contributors face-to-face.

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“I want people to physically be a part of the cause, not just a click of a button,” Contois said.

Contois is looking to continue this throughout the years. For the near future, December’s project will be focused on creating packets for homeless people and those in need.

The “Let Them Eat Pie” event will be live-streamed on Attitude Academy of the Performing Arts Facebook page on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.

Attitude Academy of Performing Arts is located at 637 Tarkiln Hill Road. Visit the website for more information.

Standard-Times staff writer Kerri Tallman can be reached at ktallman@s-t.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kerri_tallman for links to recent articles.

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This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Fundraiser for food pantry will result in a pie in the face