I recently spent 3 months in India to become a better dancer.

During those three months, I stayed with my cousin, who is a kidney patient. He must undergo expensive dialysis treatment 3 times each week. Because his family can afford this life-saving treatment, he is able to live a productive life and is at the top of his law school class! But thousands of others who cannot afford dialysis (nearly US $20/session) rely on generous donations or succumb to the fatal condition.

In July, I will be giving a solo performance to help patients living with kidney-related ailments.

But I need your help.

I would like to raise $3,000 to help with production costs so that 100% of ticket sales can go directly to help underprivileged kidney patients live productive lives through the TANKER Foundation. They provide health care and financial assistance to those who have kidney problems and do not have the wherewithal to seek medical attention.

If my show sells out I could send $10,000 to this foundation, which would help more than 500 people receive dialysis.

Your contributions will not only support an important cause. It will help me share with the public an art form that I love. This show will feature many new items I have choreographed to beautiful songs composed and performed by the late Carnatic vocal maestro (and my favorite musician) GN Balasubramaniam. He was born 100 years ago, in 1910. Accompaniment will be provided live by extraordinary musicians from Chennai, India and the San Francisco area.

This project is not a small undertaking. Bringing musicians from India, securing a hall, and countless hours painstakingly locating old lyrics and translations is a group effort and not without tremendous financial expense. Sure, I could do it cheap with taped music at a BART Station but I want to do something new and special.

All told, producing this show will run in excess of $5,000. I would like to raise $3,000 from my supporters to help with this expense.

My performance is scheduled for July 2010. Your support now will allow me to send all proceeds directly to the Tanker Foundation.

Love,
Vidya Sundaram