The Making of a Ballerina - Satya

                                          
Pursuing ballet for half of her life, Satya Tranfield could still be dancing 70 years from now. You see, Satya Tranfield is only 11 years old. But according to her instructors, Satya is uniquely gifted, and could be pirouetting in a grand way on the big stage one day.   

Satya was born in Gunma, Japan where she started her ballet training at Yuka Ballet, and continued when her family moved to the U.S.  Satya now trains under the guidance of  Patricia Cantwell and Jill Eathorne Bahr at Charleston Ballet Theatre Center for Dance Education in Mount Pleasant, SC.   Satya was awarded the 2013 YAGP Hope Award (Best Overall in the pre-competitive age division) at the Atlanta Semi Finals.  

Two weeks ago, Satya joined hundreds of other student dancers who competed at the   2015 YAGP Atlanta Semi Regionals and won 1st place in Classical Ballet and 2nd Place in Contemporary Dance  in the Pre Competitive Division, plus and invitation to compete in the Final Round in New York in April of 2015.
                                                         
Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest global network of dance.  It fulfills its mission of dance education through scholarship auditions, master classes, alumni services, educational and outreach activities, performances, and films.  Since inception, Youth America Grand Prix has become an internationally known meeting place for dance students and teachers, where they can exchange ideas, share their experience and learn the most up-to-date information on a variety of issues in ballet and contemporary dance. 
                                                    
Satya lives with her mother and her 9 year old brother Michael who is involved in competitive gymnastics. Satya is a 5th grader at James B. Edwards Elementary School in Mount Pleasant, and manages to work hard at her studies, where she always stays on the Principal's Honor Roll. 

Satya takes private lessons almost everyday with her teachers, as well as 15 hours of class, and 8 or more hours of rehearsal time every week.  

Satya says "It sounds like I wouldn't have any time left to be a kid, but I still manage to enjoy other activities, like drawing, and spending time with my friends and family.

In the past 15 years, YAGP has reached over 50,000 dancers worldwide and awarded over $3 million in scholarships to the world’s leading dance schools.  Over 300 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 80 companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, among many others.  

YAGP's level of reputation as a showcase for dance students from America and abroad is such that even passing the preliminary round to be selected to participate in the New York City Finals gives a participant an important distinction and a boost to their professional dance career, which is the ultimate mission of this campaign.
  
This GoFundMe Campaign was created to lessen the financial burdens of the family, to ensure Satya's promising  future in dance, and to provide her with as many audition and performance opportunities as possible. 

The $11,500 goal will not fully cover the costs for the family, but will make a huge impact.   Below you will find various costs, which your donation will help to lower or altogether eliminate for Satya.   A detailed budget is available at Satya's Website
                                                 
                                    

●      $32.00 – Waives Metro 7 day pass in New York City

●      $50.00 –  One leotard and one pair of tights

●      $90.00 – Provides one pair of pointe shoes for a participant to wear during Regionals, Master classes, or NYC Finals  ( needs a minimum of three to five pairs)  

 ●      $150.00 – Provides on average one hour of private coaching in preparation for YAGP.  The average student has 2- 4 hours of private coaching per week for on average 4 months prior to YAGP, in addition to their regular ballet classes.

 ●      $190.00 – Waives one participant’s Regional registration fees for two  Solo pieces

 ●      $275.00 – Waives one participant’s NYC Finals registration fee

 ●      $560.00 – Provides on average four night’s stay at a hotel during Regionals

●      $1000. 00 – Air travel to NYC Finals 

 ●      $1,500.00 – Provides designed tutu for a participant to wear during a Regional or at the NYC Finals.  (two tutus needed )

●      $1,500. 00- Choreography fee for contemporary solo.

 ●      $1,600. 00- Provides on average seven night’s stay at a hotel during NYC Finals   

 
"Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself.  Before you can move their tears,  your own must flow.  To convince them, you must yourself believe"    ~ Winston Churchill

                                               
Thank you so much for you consideration of support. My parents and I would be so thankful with any help in reaching my goal.  Would you consider donating?  Any amount would be greatly appreciated.  I am not able to offer any prizes or gifts for your donation but I can offer a promise:  I will work very hard to represent the Charleston, South Carolina  area to  the best of my ability.  If you are unable to donate would you consider sharing this page with others?  Thank you for taking the time to read this.  This is such an amazing opportunity for me and my family and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts!  

Please visit my website - for updates and more videos!

                 http://cbtbahr.wix.com/satya-tranfield

                                             Photo credits:  

                               Doug Smoak, Silvia Pangaro,
                   William Long and Rebecce Roo Turisk