URGENT UPDATE to all cheerleaders to help ballet coach and her dance student fulfil a lifelong dream!

$2,255 of $10,000 goal

Given by 17 generous donors in 12 days

Further urgent funding is needed for Olivia Russell to travel to Switzerland to coach and support her student at the Prix de Lausanne.

Christchurch, Canterbury

URGENT UPDATE!

To family, friends, ballet enthusiasts and cheerleaders everywhere regarding Olivia Russell's extraordinary goal to get to the Prix de Lausanne, Switzerland, with her student, Tamison.

OLIVIA NEEDS TO LEAVE NEW ZEALAND BY 25 JANUARY 2026 - TIMING IS NOW CRITICAL AND FURTHER FUNDS ARE STILL URGENTLY NEEDED.

For those who have not yet given but would like to do so please URGENTLY donate NOW to enable Olivia to pay for her flights THIS WEEK.

A huge thank you to those who have already donated. Every gift is hugely appreciated. Please keep going, KEEP GIVING, and keep believing to turn this dream into reality for Olivia and Tamison.

For new readers:

Please support Christchurch ballet coach Olivia Russell to travel with, coach and support her 15-year-old ballet student, Tamison Soppet, who has been selected as a finalist in the world's most prestigious ballet competition, akin to the Olympics in magnitude - the Prix de Lausanne, held in Switzerland, 1-8 February 2026.

Tamison is the only New Zealander to be selected for this honour for 2026. The honour is also Olivia's, as Artistic Director of Convergence Dance Studio and Tamison's coach of 5 years.

No-one should go to 'the Prix' without their coach.

While this story is not about suffering as is the case for so many, it is about celebrating the joy and the possibility of a bucket list dream coming true for a coach and her student in the most extraordinary way.

Please share this page with everyone! THANK YOU!

Use of funds

To contribute towards Olivia Russell's costs for flights, accommodation and transport to Switzerland for the ballet competition known as the Prix de Lausanne.

On average, fundraisers pay just 2% to use Givealittle. This is one of the lowest effective fees in New Zealand fundraising. We charge a 5% platform fee to cover the cost of running the platform. Because most donors choose to top up their donation to cover this fee, the effective cost paid by fundraisers is about 2%. That means around 98 cents of every dollar raised goes to the cause. Learn More