Help Gabriella achieve her Dancestar World Cup Dream !

I am honoured to be able to introduce myself to you. My name is Gabriella Zara Franz Kumpf, and I am 16 years old.

I started pursuing my ballet dream at the young age of 3 years old. This was during the time we were living in Vermont, America. It was a great privilege to have been part of numerous prominent performances such as Cinderella, Coppelia, The Sound of Music and the annual highlight around Thanksgiving, The Nutcracker. I was also partaking in jazz, hip-hop, modern and contemporary dances and classes. I excelled to such an extent that I have always been the youngest dancer in my group. According to my admirable ballet teacher I was set on my way to compete in Boston and New York.

 

Due to heartbreaking circumstances, I had to return to the country where I was born, South Africa. Here I continued with ballet and dance classes and successfully completed my RAD (Royal Acadamy of Dance) examinations, with the unfailing support of my two dedicated, and zealous dance teachers.

I competed in the annual Eisteddfod Competitions in Cape Town, and achieved excellent results for my classical ballet and lyrical (modern) solo's, as well as group dances.

Throughout these years, I danced in several performances and was even part of a national dancing television broadcasting series.

 

Towards the end of 2019, my mother accepted a position in Austria. She, my brother and I relocated to Salzburg with the vision and hope of a safer living environment and better opportunities and future prospects.

 

Shortly after the Covid-19 period came to an end, I attended an audition across the border. To my great joy, I was accepted into one of the best ballet studios in Germany. I am still blessed with the most remarkable, poised and dynamic ballet teacher.

In the recent two years, I have been competing at the international Danza Mundial competitions in Europe. Almost all the dances I was participating in, qualified and won first places at the World Dance Contest 2022 in Austria and at the World Dance Contest 2023, which was hosted in Prague, Czech Republic.

This year, the World Dance Contest will be held in The Netherlands and we will also be participating in my biggest opportunity yet, the DanceStar 2024 (World Dance Masters) in Porec, Croatia!

 

One of my biggest aspirations is to become a professional dancer and by obtaining the knowledge, experience and expertise, being able to fulfill my purpose and passion to teach ballet, as well as help and support children from underprivileged communities. Originating from a developing country, I am therefore quite aware of the disadvantages where there is a lack of support and funds for the arts and culture, like ballet.

 

My mother is and has always been my biggest supporter and mentor. She is a single parent and has always tried her utmost best for my older brother and me. Balancing a fulltime position, rising living costs and being constantly confronted with the financial challenges of the expenses of pursuing my ballet dreams, have become a huge challenge for my mom.

Our family has sacrificed a lot to grant me the opportunity to keep on with dancing.

At the beginning of this academic year, my brother started studying at university, and my mother needs to support him there as well.

 

With the support of your financial donations, I will be able to contribute to my monthly studio fees, my extensive ballet and dance attire, the respective competition and examinations fees, fees for attending masterclasses and workshops, as well as the travelling and accommodation costs involved when competing in competitions.

Each and every highly appreciated donation will go directly towards my tuition fees and other diverse ballet expenses.

I humbly ask to please assist and help me to compete at the World Masters this year.

I will be forever grateful and will eternally treasure the fact that your contributions will enable me to pursue my purpose.