Pacific Northwest Ballet Intensive
Donation protected
I have been accepted to
~Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle with full tuition scholarship
~American Ballet Theatre in NYC
~ San Francisco Ballet School in California
~ Houston Ballet in Texas
~Ballet West in Utah
~Long Beach Ballet with Dresden, Germany Tour on a partial scholarship
~Wait-listed for School of American Ballet's California Workshop.
Thank you all for supporting me!
My name is Ana Elisabeth Shackleford. I have three younger brothers, and we are all homeschooled by our amazing mom, Kelly. My dad is a runner and a librarian, and he excels greatly at these two things. I am thirteen years old, and my wish is to go to a ballet intensive this year. The spark of dance first ignited for me when I watched PNB's "A Midsummer's Night Dream" at the age of three. Soon after, I started taking ballet at a local studio. Since that day, I have continued to study ballet. But last summer, a turn of events threatened to daunt my career. It was late at night, and my mom was watching a show in the living room, when she heard strange noises coming from my room. She decided to check on me, and found me unconscious, my eyes rolled back in my head; I was making guttural noises, and I made no response to her calls. Terrified, she called my dad, and they called the hospital. Soon after, an ambulance came for me. I had been having a seizure. After a few tests, the doctors concluded that I had an cavernous malformation in my brain. That summer, I had surgery at Stanford Medical Center. After the surgery, I could not dance. It was the hardest obstacle that I have ever faced.
About six weeks later, I was cleared by the doctor to begin dancing again. It was as if the sunshine had returned to my life.
Ballet is an extremely challenging art; you push yourself to the breaking point every day, only to resurface and transcend the physical pain into a visual masterpiece.
When I dance, it is sunshine streaming through my soul; it is the suspension of time fulfilled when I leap across the stage. For me, ballet is purity. It is my life's work.
I have been so blessed by the people in my life! I can't believe what wonderful friends and family I am able to have. I want to thank everyone sincerely for supporting my efforts to become my dream. Thank you Miss Lyra, for helping me put together this amazing page and always being there to encourage me! Thank you mom & dad- you obviously knew what you were doing when you put me in that little ballet class at age three! I don't know where I would be without your help, support, and love. I want to thank Dr. Edwards and all of the nurses, for performing my surgery without a flaw. You guys are incredible. And I want to also thank all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who have supported me so far. It is amazing to see that even in this dark world, there is still kindness and love. Thank you all!
June 2014- At Stanford Medical Center
March 2015- In my backyard
June 2014- A fairie in Peter Pan
June 2014- A rainbow in Peter Pan
May 2014- Dancing in my backyard
January 2015- At San Francisco Ballet School
June 2014- A clock in the crocodile in Peter Pan
August 2014- Posing in my backyard
January 2015- At San Francisco Ballet School
March 2015- In a tutu in my backyard
January 2015- At my dance studio
I have been so blessed by the people in my life! I can't believe what wonderful friends and family I am able to have. I want to thank everyone sincerely for supporting my efforts to become my dream. Thank you Miss Lyra, for helping me put together this amazing page and always being there to encourage me! Thank you mom & dad- you obviously knew what you were doing when you put me in that little ballet class at age three! I don't know where I would be without your help, support, and love. I want to thank Dr. Edwards and all of the nurses, for performing my surgery without a flaw. You guys are incredible. Thank you Debi & Stephanie, for getting me this far in ballet. You are wonderful teachers. And I want to also thank all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who have supported me so far. It is amazing to see that so much kindness and love exists in our world! Thank you!
~Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle with full tuition scholarship
~American Ballet Theatre in NYC
~ San Francisco Ballet School in California
~ Houston Ballet in Texas
~Ballet West in Utah
~Long Beach Ballet with Dresden, Germany Tour on a partial scholarship
~Wait-listed for School of American Ballet's California Workshop.
Thank you all for supporting me!
My name is Ana Elisabeth Shackleford. I have three younger brothers, and we are all homeschooled by our amazing mom, Kelly. My dad is a runner and a librarian, and he excels greatly at these two things. I am thirteen years old, and my wish is to go to a ballet intensive this year. The spark of dance first ignited for me when I watched PNB's "A Midsummer's Night Dream" at the age of three. Soon after, I started taking ballet at a local studio. Since that day, I have continued to study ballet. But last summer, a turn of events threatened to daunt my career. It was late at night, and my mom was watching a show in the living room, when she heard strange noises coming from my room. She decided to check on me, and found me unconscious, my eyes rolled back in my head; I was making guttural noises, and I made no response to her calls. Terrified, she called my dad, and they called the hospital. Soon after, an ambulance came for me. I had been having a seizure. After a few tests, the doctors concluded that I had an cavernous malformation in my brain. That summer, I had surgery at Stanford Medical Center. After the surgery, I could not dance. It was the hardest obstacle that I have ever faced.
About six weeks later, I was cleared by the doctor to begin dancing again. It was as if the sunshine had returned to my life.
Ballet is an extremely challenging art; you push yourself to the breaking point every day, only to resurface and transcend the physical pain into a visual masterpiece.
When I dance, it is sunshine streaming through my soul; it is the suspension of time fulfilled when I leap across the stage. For me, ballet is purity. It is my life's work.
I have been so blessed by the people in my life! I can't believe what wonderful friends and family I am able to have. I want to thank everyone sincerely for supporting my efforts to become my dream. Thank you Miss Lyra, for helping me put together this amazing page and always being there to encourage me! Thank you mom & dad- you obviously knew what you were doing when you put me in that little ballet class at age three! I don't know where I would be without your help, support, and love. I want to thank Dr. Edwards and all of the nurses, for performing my surgery without a flaw. You guys are incredible. And I want to also thank all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who have supported me so far. It is amazing to see that even in this dark world, there is still kindness and love. Thank you all!
June 2014- At Stanford Medical Center
March 2015- In my backyard
June 2014- A fairie in Peter Pan
June 2014- A rainbow in Peter Pan
May 2014- Dancing in my backyard
January 2015- At San Francisco Ballet School
June 2014- A clock in the crocodile in Peter Pan
August 2014- Posing in my backyard
January 2015- At San Francisco Ballet School
March 2015- In a tutu in my backyard
January 2015- At my dance studio
I have been so blessed by the people in my life! I can't believe what wonderful friends and family I am able to have. I want to thank everyone sincerely for supporting my efforts to become my dream. Thank you Miss Lyra, for helping me put together this amazing page and always being there to encourage me! Thank you mom & dad- you obviously knew what you were doing when you put me in that little ballet class at age three! I don't know where I would be without your help, support, and love. I want to thank Dr. Edwards and all of the nurses, for performing my surgery without a flaw. You guys are incredible. Thank you Debi & Stephanie, for getting me this far in ballet. You are wonderful teachers. And I want to also thank all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who have supported me so far. It is amazing to see that so much kindness and love exists in our world! Thank you!
Organizer
Kelly Shackleford
Organizer
Redding, CA