Hello! My name is Amara Galloway Forsley. I am seventeen years old, and a senior in high school. Ever since I was little I have dreamed of becoming a professional dancer. I’d like your help to make this dream come true.

My first step was to attend summer intensive programs. Now, as a graduating high school senior my goal was to be accepted into a professional trainee program. I can’t describe how excited I was the day I found out I had been accepted into the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago’s year-long trainee program!

This incredible opportunity brings me one step closer to my dream. It means I will be moving to Chicago in September to train for the year with one of the top ballet schools in the country! However, the ‘pointe’ of the matter is that this is going to be an expensive pursuit. Tuition runs $8,000 and rent will be another $8,000. Along with all that, my pointe shoes alone can cost more than $3,500.



I can’t imagine my life without dance! It is my favorite thing to do, and my love of dance has only grown as I have gotten older. I started dancing when I was three years old at a local community center, but for the past five years I have been dancing as a pre-professional student at BalletNova Center for Dance, just outside of Washington, D.C. I dance almost every day, often more than 30 hours a week. 




I have attended summer intensive programs at Rochester City Ballet (Draper Center for Dance), The Royal Ballet School of Antwerp in Belgium, Houston Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, where I was awarded a full merit scholarship for their summer intensive. I have also competed in the Youth America Grand Prix competition for the past three years, placing in the Top 12 for my age category at the semi-finals each year.





My mom is a single parent, trying to support my brother, who is a college student, as well as me and my dancing. It has been very difficult financially for my family since my parents got divorced, and my father is no longer involved in my life. 

I want to try and take some of the financial burden off of my mom, since she has supported and helped me so much along the way. This school year I was fortunate enough to have been awarded a full tuition scholarship from BalletNova. I also received scholarships from the Virginia Dance Coalition, and Eurotard Dancewear totaling $1,500, which I will use towards my tuition at the Joffrey Ballet. This summer I will be staying home instead of attending a summer intensive, so I can work to earn money to attend this year-round program.

Still, it is not enough.  A dancer needs supplies - especially pointe shoes. This is my fundraising goal. With your support I can continue to pursue my dream of becoming a professional dancer.



Every little bit helps, and any contribution would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance for your help!




Special thanks to Ruth Judson and Constance Walsh for the photos.