Texas Teen Helps Others Boost Confidence Through Performing Arts
Studies suggest that the performing arts can help boost confidence and self esteem in children. The performing arts are a great way to help kids learn about themselves, as well as others and the world around them.
The skills children and teens develop through the performing arts will often benefit them throughout their lives.But, unfortunately, not all children and teens have access to performing arts, due to the cost.
While some schools offer performing arts programs, these can be expensive and inaccessible to certain students. Furthermore, underserved communities may have limited access to these opportunities.
Fortunately, one Dallas teen has set out to address this disparity, and has made it her mission to provide young people with the opportunity to boost their self esteem through the performing arts.
Madeleine Chen is a Junior at The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas and co-founder of the performing arts nonprofit, Visions for Confidence (V4C). She is also an elite dancer who was a World Finalist in Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP).
With her friend and co-founder, Elizabeth Echt, an elite musician attending high school in Jackson Hole, WY, she launched V4C to help others boost their self-esteem through performing arts. V4C provides scholarships and resources for young people to continue their performing arts training.
“Many studies have now confirmed that exposure to fine arts can foster a broader sense of well-being in children and create a bridge into society,” says Chen.
The V4C organization has already provided over $30,000 in scholarships and has helped a number of young people throughout Texas. Through a variety of programs, events, and fundraising initiatives, the organization is dedicated to providing specialized performing arts training to children with special needs, as well as financial assistance and quality arts training to talented young artists facing financial hardship as they pursue their aspirations and launch their careers.
In June 2021, V4C awarded a travel scholarship to an exemplary young artist at The Dallas Conservatory to support her participation in the National Finals of the New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA). Because of the scholarship, the young dancer not only competed in the competition, but also won a $100,000 scholarship to PACE University’s commercial dance program.
Since then, the organization has also served youth throughout Texas by donating $5000 to support the fine arts educational program at George H. W. Bush Elementary School, (which serves predominantly minority and economically disadvantaged students), and by providing nearly $8000 in scholarships to six local talented young dancers with financial needs to participate in dance competitions.
The future looks bright for this inspiring organization, and the communities it serves. Chen explains what might be next for V4C, “We’ll be continuing to offer Fine Arts Scholarships to those talented young artists facing financial hardships. Our goal is to support their continued arts training and participation in competitions that can lead to professional opportunities.”
If you’re interested in learning more about this amazing nonprofit or the work they do, visit their website at https://www.visionsforconfidence.com/.
