Hello, my name is Louisa Belian, and I am a dedicated dancer of 15 years. I have studied at several schools around New Mexico and Europe including Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, New Mexico Dance Theater, and the Vienna State Opera Ballet. In the summers of the past three years I have attended programs at Joffrey Ballet in New York City, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Vienna State Opera Ballet. Dance is my most prominent and pressing passion, and it means the world to me that I have had the opportunites to experience what I have. Often, my exposure to the dance world is only made possible from gracious donors to whom I can never give enough thanks. Again, thank you.

I have been accepted into Long Beach Ballet's summer intensive. This includes 3 weeks of hard (and humid) training at the Long Beach Ballet school with artistic director, David Wilcox. In addition, a select few dancers are chosen to travel to China for 2 weeks to train and perform with the esteemed Guangzhou Ballet. I was selected for this amazing honor!

Although I am very excited, I cannot ignore that the program is expensive. The base cost is $3000. This covers classes and rehearsals, meals, transportation, costumes, performances, hotels in China, and outings to the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and Lotus Mountain. There is much that goes into making a summer intensive operate! Also, $1500 is needed for the plane ticket to China. Housing in Long Beach costs $1500 as well. 

If I had the money, I would pay for the program without hesitation- the experience gained is just priceless. Unfortunately, I do not. I need your help. Dance is only a good investment. I'll make sure of that.