So many little girls have dreams of becoming ballerinas, but it was sometime around seven years old (three years ago)that we started to see signs that Ella's dream of becoming a ballerina, might just become a reality.
At that time, we made the decision to enroll her in a classical ballet academy in another city. Living in a small town out in the country, our options for dance are few, so because of her dedication and commitment to training, we drive more than 2.5 hours round trip to dance five days a week.  Along with being scholastically challenged and diligently performing academics grade levels above her age, she takes ballet three times a week, as well as pointe, modern, lyrical, and character dance on her off days, but Ella's truest and dearest love is ballet. 



She has had the opportunity to study under some wonderful teachers and would love to continue her training over the summer months, receive private ballet classes, and hopes to attend a two week young dancer's course in Pennsylvania this August. We are so proud of the dedication that Ella has to her art, but unfortunately, it gets costly. The summer months afford her the chance to spend more hours in her home studio taking extra classes. Her usual dance tuition increases to accomodate the extra classes, private lessons cost $60-$75/hour, tuition to the young dancer program, travel expenses, room and board, registration fees, uniforms, dancewear, ballet slippers, and pointe shoes will see our costs soaring above $5,000 and well above our affordable budget. Everything must be paid by last week of May to ensure Ella can participate in all of her classes and programs.


It is for this reason that we are turning to our friends and community to ask for support. We ask that you please share Ella's story. Every little bit helps to add up to the gift of dance for this bunhead. We will continue to share pictures and videos of Ella's progress on the Instagram account PigeonsThatDance, so you can follow her dance journey.


Words cannot express what it would mean to all of us to be able to afford this opportunity for Ella. We would like to thank you in advance for any shares, donations, or assistance with helping us to achieve her goals. Thank you, thank you a million times over.