Help Isabel Towards Her Pre-Pro Ballet Training
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Dear Friends and Family,
I’m so excited to share with you that I’ve been accepted into DeCruz Ballet’s year-round pre-professional program, and I will be moving to San Antonio Texas for the upcoming school year! This is especially exciting for me since in the past five months I have been working towards recovering from a fracture in my back. I am so blessed by this incredible opportunity and by the people that have helped me get to where I am. I have been working privately with Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal Dancer, Lesley Rauch. I’ve grown so much in my personal ballet technique, and have learned how to protect my injured back by strengthening surrounding muscles. In addition to working with Lesley, I’ve been seeing Laura Bannister, who works with other PNB dancers at Avant Physical Therapy in Seattle. She has set me on a path to recovery and strength for a future in dance.
Last summer was such a pivotal point for me. I was in so much pain because of my back, I thought my body might never be able to support my dream of becoming a professional dancer, and I was almost ready to give up ballet completely. Luckily, I have an amazing mother who wouldn’t let me, and told me we would try everything we could before getting to the point of quitting. I’m so grateful for that support and that I didn’t give up. I never would have known my future opportunities, and I would’ve missed out on this feeling of where I have gotten to now - getting ready to take the next step in my dance training and move across the country.
DeCruz Ballet’s pre professional program will have a max of 12 students, offering the chance to get individual attention, and correction from my teachers, Lindsi Dec and Karel Cruz, two former Principal Dancers with Pacific Northwest Ballet. I will be following the training regimen that Professionals undergo to stay strong, which will include dancing around four to six hours a day. Here is what Lindsi and Karel say about their program: “We offer dancers elite instruction with a welcoming atmosphere. Our studio excels in preparing students for the professional world with our first-hand experience and connections in the field.” You can read more about their program and philosophies at www.lindsiandkarel.com.
This new chapter in my life and training isn’t free of course, and my plan is to pay for the tuition portion of expenses through fundraising, donations, and working. My goal is to raise/earn the $8,000 for tuition between now and next fall. I would be grateful and so blessed for any help to get me to Texas! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter and for your consideration.
With Love,
Isabel Malia Vander Griend
I’m so excited to share with you that I’ve been accepted into DeCruz Ballet’s year-round pre-professional program, and I will be moving to San Antonio Texas for the upcoming school year! This is especially exciting for me since in the past five months I have been working towards recovering from a fracture in my back. I am so blessed by this incredible opportunity and by the people that have helped me get to where I am. I have been working privately with Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal Dancer, Lesley Rauch. I’ve grown so much in my personal ballet technique, and have learned how to protect my injured back by strengthening surrounding muscles. In addition to working with Lesley, I’ve been seeing Laura Bannister, who works with other PNB dancers at Avant Physical Therapy in Seattle. She has set me on a path to recovery and strength for a future in dance.
Last summer was such a pivotal point for me. I was in so much pain because of my back, I thought my body might never be able to support my dream of becoming a professional dancer, and I was almost ready to give up ballet completely. Luckily, I have an amazing mother who wouldn’t let me, and told me we would try everything we could before getting to the point of quitting. I’m so grateful for that support and that I didn’t give up. I never would have known my future opportunities, and I would’ve missed out on this feeling of where I have gotten to now - getting ready to take the next step in my dance training and move across the country.
DeCruz Ballet’s pre professional program will have a max of 12 students, offering the chance to get individual attention, and correction from my teachers, Lindsi Dec and Karel Cruz, two former Principal Dancers with Pacific Northwest Ballet. I will be following the training regimen that Professionals undergo to stay strong, which will include dancing around four to six hours a day. Here is what Lindsi and Karel say about their program: “We offer dancers elite instruction with a welcoming atmosphere. Our studio excels in preparing students for the professional world with our first-hand experience and connections in the field.” You can read more about their program and philosophies at www.lindsiandkarel.com.
This new chapter in my life and training isn’t free of course, and my plan is to pay for the tuition portion of expenses through fundraising, donations, and working. My goal is to raise/earn the $8,000 for tuition between now and next fall. I would be grateful and so blessed for any help to get me to Texas! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter and for your consideration.
With Love,
Isabel Malia Vander Griend
Organizer and beneficiary
Isabel Vander Griend
Organizer
Bellingham, WA
Kurt Vander Griend
Beneficiary