Ballet Family Unite to Support Miss Leslie

Help Support Miss Leslie — Our Beloved Ballet Teacher!

For over 40 years, Miss Leslie has been more than just a ballet teacher, she’s been a mentor, a role model, and a second mother to countless students. Many of us were lucky enough to grow up under her guidance learning not just how to dance but how to carry ourselves with grace, discipline, and style!

Leslie has dedicated her life to her students and to her school, which she has run independently for decades. As many in the arts community know, that kind of dedication doesn’t often come with financial security. And now, she needs our help.

The Challenge.

Recently, the condo association where Leslie lives imposed a special assessment (i.e. an expensive bill for building maintenance) that must be paid by next April. This unexpected expense is creating a financial burden that she simply cannot meet on her own, especially right now.

On top of this, Leslie is dealing with some health concerns. Out of respect for her privacy we’re not sharing details publicly, but what we can say is that it would be best if she could devote all her time and energy toward getting well right now.

Leslie does not have family members who can assist financially. That means it's up to us, her former students and friends, to be her extended "ballet family" — to be there for her, just as she was always there for us.

Our Goal.

We are aiming to raise $31,000 to cover 1.) the $20,000 special assessment, 2.) $10,000 as an additional financial cushion to allow her to take time off from teaching to deal with her health issues, plus 3.) ~870 which will cover the 2.9% transaction fee that the GoFundMe website deducts to cover the cost of processing each individual donation.

How You Can Help.

Any amount, large or small, will make a difference. Whether you can give $10 or $1,000 your contribution is a direct way to show gratitude for the love, time, and energy Leslie has poured into all of us. The GoFundMe website even offers an option to donate monthly until we reach our goal, if that works better for you.

Transparency and financial accountability.

This campaign is co-managed by Melinda (Pendell) Wallace and Jennifer (McCulloch) McCaig, both longtime students and friends of Leslie. It was our idea to do this and, after some gentle coaxing, Leslie gave us permission to launch this campaign on her behalf. Every dollar will go directly into Leslie’s bank account and toward helping ensure she can stay in her home and provide some much needed financial stability at this time.

If Miss Leslie made a difference in your life, or even if you laughed at her jokes, please consider giving back in this way. It would be great to show her that her community is here and that she’s not facing this alone!

Thank you for your support, your generosity, and your kindness.