Living with the value of “Using your gifts to help others” The Lavers feel a strong need and purpose in connecting with and delivering value back to the community. Connecting people with people via community dance events was a natural progression. Bridge The Gap is owned and operated by Raz and Viv who are often seen donating time and resources to curate community events with wildly successful outcomes.
Providing a platform and opportunity for up and coming performers and community leaders whilst delivering exciting entertainment for the general public is a passionate project for the family. Often the students of their Youth Engagement program are given the access to learn event management and ultimately either take part in competing or be part of managing the event on the day. All these facets make the return benefit to the community reach a multitude of generations. A soft spot for our community is our youth Engagement work: Both Raz and Viv have not only shown interest but actively worked with children and youth from a very young age. As mentioned Viv started her coaching career in gymnastics and dance at age 8, and went on to build Bali's first dance and gymnastics school at age 15. All the while coaching/mentoring children from ages 6-18yrs. Raz started his passion in the field of martial arts. Operating a successful Martial arts school from the age of 14 yrs old Raz developed a unique art of building skills physically and mentally in the youth he mentored. As Raz found success with breaking he became well sort after to teach teens at high schools and also run his first youth engagement workshop in Kenwick 20 years ago for the city of Gosnells Both continued their individual work of teaching martial arts, breaking, acro until the two worlds combined in 2004.From 2004 onwards, Viv and Raz together have continued to teach all ages but specifically have found a passion and started to laser focus on mentoring youth in the age brackets of 11-18yrs. Making a positive impact on youth in this extremely important and delicate phase of life is a deep rooted purpose they both share. They started their work through various agencies both locally and regionally (Laverton for example).
Both continued their individual work of teaching martial arts, breaking, acro until the two worlds combined in 2004. From 2004 onwards, Viv and Raz together have continued to teach all ages but specifically have found a passion and started to laser focus on mentoring youth in the age brackets of 11-18yrs. Making a positive impact on youth in this extremely important and delicate phase of life is a deep rooted purpose they both share. They started their work through various agencies both locally and regionally (Laverton for example). Most recently, since 2015 Raz and Viv have facilitated the Youth Engagement Program -Freestyle Edge- for the City of Joondalup. Located at the Currumbine recreation centre every Tuesday of the school term the centre is filled with youth of all backgrounds and abilities, coming together to support each other, to embrace challenges, breakdown barriers and come away empowered. All under the watchful eye of two facilitators that understand through and through the power of overcoming adversity and helping others prosper. This passion has been passed down to the Laver kids. As mentioned previously it was a 7year old Vivica that coined the idea of providing free classes via Youtube as she understood not all kids may have access to or the ability to afford tuition and felt everyone deserves the right to learn.
Every time you support the Lavers, watching/sharing/commenting on videos, purchasing merch or courses or attending events, you are helping the family help the community. A full circle notion of help, love, togetherness and gratitude are exactly what the world is in need of so THANK YOU!
