Help Tinyade Raise Interlochen Tuition!
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About Me
***UPDATE: Any funds raised beyond our initial goal will go to supporting Tinayde's additional Interlochen expenses, including a required MacBook laptop, 3-years of textbooks, dance uniforms, and pointe shoes.***
Hi, my name is Tinyade Sharra and I'm 16 years old. In 2019 I started studying at the Lilongwe Dance Program, the only ballet school in Malawi's capital city. Since the program offers classes only once a week, my teacher helped me to audition for programs where I could train more frequently, to pursue my dreams of becoming a dancer. I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to participate in the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet's 2020 summer intensive over Zoom, and this past summer, I received a full scholarship to Ballet Academy East and travelled to New York to participate !
At the end of the program, I auditioned for Interlochen Arts Academy , an arts boarding high school in Interlochen, Michigan. With classes starting in just one-week, Interlochen had already made their enrollment decisions, but made an exception and I was admitted to the Dance Department as a 10th grade boarding student! Going to Interlochen is giving me an amazing level of fulltime training, so I can excel in dance. I hope to one day go to a top dance college, like Juilliard, and afterwards become a professional dancer and spread more dance across different parts of Africa. I personally believe that I can use my dancing abilities to connect with people. When I watch other dancers I'm inspired, and I hope that I can do that to other people when I'm dancing too!
Hi, my name is Tinyade Sharra and I'm 16 years old. In 2019 I started studying at the Lilongwe Dance Program, the only ballet school in Malawi's capital city. Since the program offers classes only once a week, my teacher helped me to audition for programs where I could train more frequently, to pursue my dreams of becoming a dancer. I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to participate in the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet's 2020 summer intensive over Zoom, and this past summer, I received a full scholarship to Ballet Academy East and travelled to New York to participate !
At the end of the program, I auditioned for Interlochen Arts Academy , an arts boarding high school in Interlochen, Michigan. With classes starting in just one-week, Interlochen had already made their enrollment decisions, but made an exception and I was admitted to the Dance Department as a 10th grade boarding student! Going to Interlochen is giving me an amazing level of fulltime training, so I can excel in dance. I hope to one day go to a top dance college, like Juilliard, and afterwards become a professional dancer and spread more dance across different parts of Africa. I personally believe that I can use my dancing abilities to connect with people. When I watch other dancers I'm inspired, and I hope that I can do that to other people when I'm dancing too!
Why I’m Fundraising
I am extremely grateful to have received an 80% scholarship to Interlochen! However, due to my late acceptance, Interlochen was not able to provide a full scholarship this year, and my parents, teachers and I are fundraising to support the rest of my tuition. I am very grateful for your consideration of contributing towards my schooling, to help me continue pursuing my dreams.
A Message from Tinyade’s Parents...
We are Tinyade’s parents, in Lilongwe, Malawi. We support Tinyade in pursuing her dreams to become a professional dancer. Tinyade started expressing her desire to learn ballet and other forms of dance when she was little, but there were no dance programmes that we knew of. So when we heard of the Lilongwe Dance Program in 2019, we did not hesitate to enroll Tinyade. What she has achieved these past two short years, mentored and inspired by her teacher Leslie Berman, is beyond our wildest imaginations. She has benefitted from so much generosity from the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Ballet Academy East in New York City, Gaynor Minden, Capezio, Donate2Dance, the Lipsett family, Madsoc Theatre and Tweeties Play Centre in Lilongwe, and many other wonderful individuals and institutions.
The opportunity for Tinyade to attend Interlochen Arts Academy is a once-in-a-lifetime break. We are very grateful for the incredible love and support that have taken her this far. We will be very thankful for whatever support she continues to get to allow her to stay at Interlochen and finish her high school. Thank you very much for supporting Tinyade to realise her dreams.
Steve & Gloria Sharra, Lilongwe, Malawi
NOTE: Tinyade's Aunt in the U.S., Esther Sharra, will be paying the Interlochen tuition on Tinyade's behalf as Tinyade is a minor.
Co-organizers (2)
Tinyade Sharra
Organizer
Interlochen, MI
Tinyade Sharra
Beneficiary
Lilongwe Dance
Co-organizer