Only hours to go and we need to get to the target of $26,000. We are almost there but we can sure do with some more help right now. Eileen Kramer has captured the hearts of millions of people around the world. ABC News story so far has 3.2 million views and the Huffington Post with a readership of more than 45 million wrote; "For very obvious reasons, Kramer is officially our new heroine, both for her creative devotion and hypnotic talent, not to mention the fact that she's putting stereotypes about aging to serious shame." 

This funding you provide is to cover the cost of the production of Eileen Kramer's Dance Drama, The Early Ones". So read on for more background if you have time but donate now as we are running out of time. Everyone can and does make a difference to help Eileen make history. We think Eileen is the longest living working choreographer, dancer, and costume maker in the world.

More about Eileen and the project:
Eileen Kramer was a member of the Bodenwieser Dance Company, the first modern dance company in Australia. Eileen is a choreographer, dancer, costume maker, artist and writer. At 100 years of age she is most likely the longest living working choreographer and dancer in Australia if not the world. Eileen came back to Australia at the age of 99 because she "missed the Kookaburras". Eileen had been living in the USA for last 40 years and her new work "The Early Ones" will be her first choreographed production in Australia. This is a rare opportunity to see Eileen's work and the influence of Gertrud Bodenwieser. We need your help to raise enough funds to stage the production. Not only is this an important work of historical significance but your support will help realise Eileen's work be brought to the stage.
In February Eileen was invited to be an artist in residence at Bundanon Trust in their Arts in Residence program. Over one week Eileen worked with some of Australia's most talented dancers with rehearsal director, Julia Cotton and composer Nicholas Lyon who is writing the original music, to create this work. The dancers and other cast members are: Anca Frankenhaeuser, Patrick Harding-Irmer, Gavin Clarke, Anya McKee, Shane Carroll, Jean-Paul Bell, Ross Fletcher, Scott Rigney, Kate Berry, Joesph and Ruby Davey. The work is produced by Maggie Haertsch and the Arts Health Institute.

While at Bundanon Trust, Simon Cunich created a series of five videos documenting the experience. We have booked The Independent Theatre, North Sydney for the performance. We have three sessions: 8pm Friday 13th March, 2pm and 8pm Saturday 14th March.

We are pleased to also announce that ABC Compass will feature the extraordinary life Eileen Kramer in their first program for the year "Dancing @ 100" - not to be missed. Turn on your TV to ABC 1 at 6.30pm on Sunday 15^th March and repeated on ABC 1 at 11am on Monday 16^th March.

We need your help to support the modest fees for the nine dancers, their costumes, the musicians and the music composition, the theatre hire and the technical and support crew. The Arts Health Institute has supported the initial set up of the work while at Bundanon Trust which included personal support for Eileen, travel to and from Bundanon Trust for all the cast, and living away from home expenses and dancers' fees, but we can't sustain the other costs. So we need your help to see the work that has been developed can now be performed on stage. Ticket sales will help defray some of the costs but it is not enough on its own. Any extra funds after covering the cost for her production will support Eileen to continue creating.

Eileen says, "An artist lives with luxury of spirit. By the nature of things artists needs patrons. Your support is greatly appreciated."

The Arts Health Institute is a registered Health Promotion Charity governed by a board of directors. If you wish to make a donation and receive a tax deduction you can do so online through our donation page on our website: www.artshealthinstitute.org.au Of course contact me, Maggie Haertsch, CEO of the Institute to discuss a larger donation.

Eileen says that the only challenge for this project is herself "Because of my balance which is due to the fact I only have one eye to see with, but that is no problem really as someone else can do the role if needed."

We have an understudy for Eileen's part if this is needed. We are all determined to see this project succeed.