On May 31st LAVA will host its 2009 Handstand-a-Thon. The event is a fund-raiser for the LAVA Studio scholarship fund as well as LAVA's community programming. Handstand experts along with first-timers young and old are invited to come to Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, to log seconds and minutes with their feet off the floor. Handstanders can use the wall, a spotter, or several spotters. Their handstand times will be added to a collective handstand pool. The goal for the total time of people with their feet raised is 3 hours; the goal for the total funds raised is $20,000.

Handstanders are encouraged to download pledge sheets and enlist sponsors for each second they stand on their hands. Donors can contribute to a handstander of their choice through direct contact with the handstander, or contribute directly to LAVA by giving online. Or donors can offer contributions based on special challenges, such as $1 for every "first-timer" or $100 for 25 people in a simultaneous 30-second handstand. If you would like to sponsor a special challenge, contact Diana Y Greiner at diana@lavalove.org.

The event will be enlivened by performances from current LAVA Studio students. Nourishment for the hard-working upside-downers will be provided by LAVA's very special taco truck, wine from local restaurant BEAST, and a barrel of Sprecher's root beer.

LAVA's community programs include weekly LAVA classes, offered free and discounted to kids ages 5 to 18 during the LAVA Studio's three ten-week sessions each year. The studio also hosts a periodic free community performance night called Night of Renegades, which has included trapeze, poetry, theater, dance, acrobatics, and clowning performed by adults, students, and professionals in a festive, supportive, and extremely diverse atmosphere. Magma, LAVA's junior company, hosts a similar night called Magma Mix, where performers include Magma, students and other young people from the neighborhood. In addition, LAVA's community programs include a partnership with Public School 9 through which dozens of students from P.S. 9 learn acrobatics from LAVA company members.

LAVA is a performance troupe based in Brooklyn dedicated to creating original, empowering, boundary-breaking performances based in dance and acrobatics. The LAVA Studio is their home base where they rehearse, train, offer classes to kids and adults, and host several community programs. For more info, including photos and video footage of the company as well as last year's Handstand-a-Thon, go to lavalove.org.