Cyla Cafuoco has been dancing since she was just two years old. For her, dancing is more than just a hobby.
“Dancing has become a critical part of my life. It has shaped me into who I am today because of the discipline, confidence, and joy it’s given me,” the NVOT sophomore shared.
Cafuoco’s desire to give back and share her passion for dance with others inspired her to start Step2Shine, a non-profit with a mission to collect and donate dance wear to underprivileged dancers and studios locally and around the world.
Cafuoco didn’t do it alone. With the help of friends, Alma Kore from Tenafly High School and Mia Messinger and Lauren Young from Northern Valley Demarest, these dancers from Broadway Bound Dance Center turned their idea into a reality. Young and Messinger also credited their “love for dancing” and desire to give back to their communities as inspirations for starting Step2Shine.
“We recognized that not everyone has access to costumes and shoes needed to participate. We also were concerned about financial limitations that may limit individuals from expressing themselves through dance. Ultimately, we created Step2Shine to spread our love of dance and ensure, regardless of their circumstances, they should have a chance to shine,” the founders said.
From managing inventory to coordinating outreach efforts, all while balancing schoolwork and other commitments, launching Step2Shine came with its share of challenges.
“While creating this nonprofit, we overcame many obstacles,” Messinger said.
“One of the biggest challenges we faced was managing the logistics of the donations. This required effort and patience. After we received our first load of costumes, it took us about 4 hours to sort and label all the costumes into our inventory and then into packages,” Cafuoco added.
Young echoed a similar sentiment and added the challenges that came with name recognition, saying, “one of the biggest challenges was organizing donations and managing the logistics of collecting, sorting, and shipping the costumes. It also took time and effort to spread awareness and build support within the community, but it was all worth it in the end.”
The hard work has paid off, and the non-profit is already seeing results, meeting fundraising goals with successful projects in Africa and the Caribbean. In partnership with the non-profit Develop Africa, Step2Shine donated 266 dance costumes and 35 pairs of shoes to students in Sierra Leone.
This is just the first step for Step2Shine, as its organizers plan to hold a donation drive to support Materials for the Arts in New York City and according to Messinger, “put more donation boxes in many different locations across the country.”
Students and members of our community can contribute to Step2Shine in several ways, including donating gently used or new dancewear (costumes, shoes, and leotards), organizing donation boxes, and spreading awareness through social media.
“Even small efforts, like sharing our mission with friends and family, can help us grow and reach more people,” Cafuoco shared. “Community involvement is essential to our success, and every contribution helps us continue making a positive impact.”
Looking to the future, Young envisions Step2Shine reaching beyond their home studio to “even more communities and dancers around the world.”
The founders also plan to grow the management team by involving more students who are passionate about their mission.
Cafuoco said, “As Step2Shine continues to develop, we would love to create leadership opportunities for other students so the organization can continue even after we graduate. Ultimately, our goal is to build a long-lasting organization that continues to expand globally, helping dancers everywhere gain access to the resources they need to succeed.”