Custom Barres Gives Back ~ Honeybee House NYC

My name is Melissa Widhson and I am the founder of Honeybee House, Inc.

I started dancing at the age of 7. Growing up, a lot of my dance education was funded by scholarships and work-study opportunities. Because of this amazing support, I became a company dancer with The Philadelphia Dance Conservatory by the young age of 11. I was a student afterschool, on weekends-5-6 days a week and took every class I could! I was awarded a scholarship with The ROC School (PA Ballet) and through those awarded scholarships and performance opportunities it later brought me to be signed with Daniel Mulhern Entertainment. From the age of 18-22 I danced for major artists and danced in hundreds of shows in Atlantic City, New York City and Los Angeles.

I moved to New York City in August 2005, in pursuit of expanding my dance career. Unfortunately, just a short 6 months later I was in a horrific bus accident on my way to perform in Atlantic City. The bus lost control and flipped down a 30-foot hill. I was forced to end my dance career but was in love with dance more than ever....

What was a girl to do?

I googled NYC dance volunteers and lightning hit!

I began volunteering for a dance company in Spanish Harlem, NYC just 4 hours later! I fell in love with teaching and turned my near death experience into a NEW LIFE experience!

I founded my own non- profit because of the wonderful gifts I received as a child through companies like you! This amazing gift has brought my volunteer teachers and I to our best grand plies in amazement!

The ballet barre is home to a dancer. It is a teacher’s assistant. It is a soft place to fall after a hard day at school, a hard day at home, a hard day of life! The ballet barre was my best friend through good times and bad, through my parents divorce, my prom date blowing me off and the one place I went to when I recovered after my accident. I can only imagine what 2 custom barres will do for the Honeybee House Program!

Thank you Custom Barres for donating to Honeybee House! You have not only provided a safe place to go after school but have made the dreams of girls and boys come true. With your support over 100 kids have a dance class they are NOW a part of. You! Custom Barres, have made it possible for at-risk children and low-income families to participate in a dance program. You! Are a parent’s hero supporting afterschool programs so they can provide for their family. You! Have kept teens off the streets and gave them the tools to make a positive choice. You! Have put the spark in a child's head that gives them creative self-confidence. You! Have just introduced a child to their new best friend that they met in dance class. You! Have just given music filled, self-expressive, and accomplished future to kids you have never even met.

Big hugs to YOU! Custom Barres!

Dancingly YOURS!

Melissa Widhson
Honeybee House, Inc