Piimio has scholarship with Huntsville Ballet Co

Artistic Director of the Huntsville Ballet Company, Mr Phillip Otto, is a permanent guest teacher at the Summer Ballet Intensive at The Rock, in Philadelphia, where I've just had 5 weeks full-time tuition. He gave me a full scholarship to continue training at the Huntsville Ballet School and dance with the Huntsville Ballet Company until June 2016.

All I need to provide is my accommodation and living expenses,and ballet shoes etc, but all tuition and costumes will be covered by the scholarship. I have already organised private board in Huntsville, and a friend has helped us pay for my flight over to the US - I'm booked to leave on September 21!

Therefore, I need to raise money for -

my return airfare and medical insurance - $3,000

some living money to start with - $700

ballet/pointe shoes - $300

I've already got my visa organised too, so I'm halfway to getting to Alabama!

Gaining a scholarship was my goal in attending and working hard at the Summer Intensive at The Rock, and I'm so grateful that many friends and strangers made my trip to Philadelphia possible through our various fundraising efforts and also crowdfunding.

We had classes 6 hours a day, 6 days a week, and I even went early and stayed late to do extra practice - it was challenging, but so exciting and invigorating! Most of the other dancers were already full-time students, but I held my own - the friends I made couldn't believe I was only training after school for 6 hours of ballet classes a week in NZ. This made me feel really good!

I will be so grateful if you feel moved to help me achieve this next stage in my training - after this I will be a proficient enough dancer to gain employment with a ballet company, and earn my own income :)

I can't believe my dream is coming true, but I am so happy it is! Thank you again.

Piimio :)