By Ralph

Ten years ago, Sara Battaglia had an unusual way for students to pay for her dance class.

Bring canned food.

There wasn't a fancy studio or a large organization behind the idea. The concept was simple: teach dance while finding a way to give something back to the community.

Those canned goods were donated to help others.

A decade later, that small idea has become Dancing for a Difference, a Brandon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance and arts studio serving children and families throughout the Tampa Bay area.

From Canned Goods to a Community Mission

Battaglia's original program was called Dancing for Donations.

The early mission went beyond collecting food. Over time, the organization also collected pet supplies for the Humane Society and school supplies for teachers.

As participation grew, however, so did the realities of operating a dance program.

Rent had to be paid. Teachers and staff had to be compensated. What began as a donation-driven project gradually developed into something larger.

The organization eventually became Dancing for a Difference, with a mission of making dance and music available to people of different ages and abilities while continuing its emphasis on community service.

A Dance Studio Designed to Include

What makes this Brandon organization particularly interesting isn't simply how long it has been operating.

It's who they're trying to make room for.

Dancing for a Difference welcomes students of varying abilities and offers programs for children with disabilities. It also provides free programming for children in foster care and reduced-cost opportunities for families who might otherwise have difficulty affording lessons.

The studio's current mission describes dance and music as tools for helping children develop socially, emotionally and physically through movement, music and friendships.

That means the goal isn't simply teaching someone how to perform onstage.

It's creating a place where children who might not always have the same opportunities elsewhere can

participate alongside their peers.

More Than Dance

The program has expanded considerably from those first classes.

Today, Dancing for a Difference offers instruction that includes ballet, jazz, tap, acro, hip-hop, lyrical dance and music, among other programs.

The organization has also worked to create an environment specifically designed with young dancers in mind.

Dancing for a Difference is Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) certified, meaning its approach includes age-appropriate music, movement and costumes. Its staff members are background checked and CPR certified, according to the Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited organization.

Growth Measured in More Than Square Feet

The organization's growth hasn't always been easy to miss.

When Dancing for a Difference moved into a larger Brandon facility in 2022, it had grown to more than 200 students. The move doubled its available space from approximately 1,500 square feet to about 3,000 square feet.

This summer brought another milestone.

The organization celebrated the beginning of its 10th season with an August 15 open house and ribbon cutting at its Brandon studio.

Ten seasons after a dance teacher accepted canned goods instead of conventional payment, the underlying idea is still recognizable:

Find a way to make the arts available to more children—and use that opportunity to help the community at the same time.

Where to Find Them

Dancing for a Difference is located at:

1076 E. Brandon Blvd., Suite 109
Brandon, FL 33511

📞 813-601-3009
✉️ office@dancing4adifference.com

Families interested in classes or learning more about its programs can visit the Dancing for a Difference official website.

The Crosstown Takeaway

Community organizations don't always begin with a building, a large budget or an elaborate plan.

Sometimes they begin with something much smaller.

A dance teacher.

A few students.

And some canned food.

Ten years later, children are learning to dance, families are finding opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach, and a small idea that started with giving back has become part of the Brandon community.

That's a pretty good reminder that making a difference doesn't necessarily require starting big.

Sometimes you just have to start.