Pacific Dance Ensemble (PDE) asks for your donations to help Newport School of Artistic Movement (NSAM) student and PDE member, Yotonah Lucy Lynch, turn up the heat of her technical and artistic chops by attending two summer dance intensives with internationally acclaimed dance companies. This was Lucy’s first time going to big out-of-town auditions. Lucy auditioned for 10 summer intensives with nationally and internationally acclaimed dance companies and got into 8 of them. Ballet Austin and Sacramento Ballet both offered her a 50% scholarship! Needless to say, we are proud! These intensives are not cheap! Tuition for these prestigious programs runs about $2500 apiece and room and board is an additional $4300. We aim to raise $6700.

We thank everyone who has so graciously donated so far. To date, we have raised $1850 and are blown away by your support! Lucy is ready to turn up the heat of her technical and artistic chops and we are confident that with your help she can! Every little bit helps! Please donate generously to help Lucy on her path to becoming a shining star! All donations are tax-deductible as PDE is a non-profit tax-exempt organization. Summer intensives have a profound effect on young dancers, advancing their skills as pre-professional dancers, as well as helping them to network and showcase their talents with the dance community at-large.

Lucy says, “I have been enchanted with dance since I can recall. I was so eager and had been following my sister around at her ballet classes that I was allowed to begin my training before I turned 4 years old. I began dancing at Evergreen Dance Center in Longview Washington where I worked my way up to 9 classes per week. I enjoyed every single moment of it. At age 10, we moved to the beautiful Oregon Coast where I began taking classes at NSAM, where I have been able to expand my technical and choreographic skills. Working with Nancy and becoming a member of PDE has inspired me to strive even harder. I also enjoy the close collaborations made in PDE and the opportunity to perform more and work with professional artists, in a lot of different fields, which is very enriching.

This year I auditioned for summer intensive programs and am honored to have been accepted to train with a number of different dance companies. This summer will be my first summer traveling outside my local area for instruction. It is very exciting and a little scary.

I am writing to ask if you would consider financially supporting me this summer. Your support would go towards my room, board, and tuition. Any and every donation is greatly appreciated and will be utilized to further my dream of becoming a ballerina. All donations are made on my behalf to PDE and are tax deductible.”

Nancy Mittleman, who has been teaching in Newport for almost 50 years, directs both PDE and NSAM, and is known for producing a multitude of successful young artists believes that Lucy is not only a wonderful student but a truly gifted dancer. She says, “Lucy absorbs technique like a sponge, works hard to perfect her skills and is a passionate dancer with a magnetic presence on stage… Living with her mom and sister, finances are tight and Lucy pays for most of her classes at Newport School of Artistic Movement (NSAM) by working as a demonstrator for me. Although she is younger than most of my demonstrators (14), she is mature, responsible, precise in her technique, gentle and kind to all.”

Lucy would like to go to the Ballet Austin and Sacramento Ballet intensives. Each intensive is 2-6 weeks and includes daily classes in ballet, partnering, pointe, choreography and modern or jazz dance.

HELP CREATE A STAR and give generously to help our lovely Lucy meet her goal of $6700.00. I feel Lucy is deserving of every opportunity and these are great opportunities that will help her follow her dreams. Your support, helping our youth to excel in the profession of their choice speaks well of our wonderful community. As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Your donation would be greatly appreciated.

Mittleman has been training dancers from pre-school to professional in Newport for almost 50 years. PDE/NSAM dancers who have gone off to study and become professional performers include, Amber Merkens (Juilliard, Mark Morris Dance Group, Dance Heginbotham), Rizo AKA Amelia Zirin-Brown (Rizo, Cornish Institute for the Arts), Marissa Maislen (NYU Tisch, Sleep No More, NYC), Anna Zekan (Martha Graham Studio, Amanda Selwyn Dance Theater, NYC, freelance dancer in NYC), Phoebe Berglund (Morris) (Antioch College, Hunter College, freelance dancer/choreographer NYC), Jennifer Harmer (NYU Tisch, Chris Elam Co), Michaela Shoberg-Cunningham (Paco Gnomes and Co., Requisite Dance, San Francisco), Allison Dietterle-Smith. (San Francisco Ballet, San Diego Dance Theater), Meghann Fowler (Lineage Dance, Los Angles), Sarah Boris (Headwaters Dance Co Missoula, MT), Joanna Bristow (Dancer’s Workshop, Jackson WY), Amity Jones (freelance dancer NYC), Nisa Windsong (California Institute for the Arts, N.Body, Salem OR), Drake Simon (studies at Ballet Austin, Colorado West Performing Arts Co.), Grace Chadwick (studies with American Ballet Theater, Martha Graham Studio, Cincinnati Ballet)