Hi, my name is Chariel. I’m 14 years old, and I am a dancer who has a huge dream to become a professional dancer. Dance has been my passion for as long as I can remember. It’s where I feel the most confident, the most alive, and the most like myself. One day, I dream of dancing in college, performing in music videos, working with artists, choreographing, and living the LA/NY dance dream. I want to train, grow, and keep pushing myself to become one of the best. I know it’s a big dream, but I’m not afraid of hard work. I’ve already dedicated so much of my life to dance, and I can’t stop now.

This season, I was honored to make the Senior World Team at Source Dance Lab for the second year in a row. Last year, being on that team was the most magical experience for 13-year-old me. I grew so much as a dancer and a person. I worked hard this past year training every single day, even though I couldn’t be on the team this year due to expenses. That decision hurt, especially after working so hard, but I understood. My mom and dad work incredibly hard for me and my two siblings. My mom does everything she can to support us and make us happy, and my dad works long night shifts outside as a JetBlue mechanic. I know how much they sacrifice and how much pressure they feel, and that breaks my heart. I never want money to make my parents feel guilty or stressed out.

One of the sacrifices I had to make was that I decided not to have a quinceañera. A quince is a pretty big deal. But when it came down to it, I realized what I wanted most was to dance, and that meant more to me than a big party. Quinceañeras are expensive, and I’d rather invest in my training and my future.

After long talks, and with so much love and sacrifice, my parents have agreed to support me being on the team again this season. But it’s going to be very hard financially. Here’s what we are facing:

I made this GoFundMe because I don’t want finances to stop me from chasing my dreams. I am 14, so with these next years, I want to make the most of my training. I want to make them the best ever, and I want to look back knowing I gave it everything I had.

If you can please help in any way by donating or even just sharing, it would mean so much to me and my family. Your support isn’t only helping me with my dance fees, but you’re also helping me stay on the path toward the life I dream about every single day.

Thank you for reading and for the support. I really appreciate it. I hope you can help me and be a part of my journey

-Chariel