Ophélia (AKA: Earth Baby) sent out a newsletter and we wanted to share it with you here.

This is the story of a dreamer audacious enough to dance against the odds and how you can be a part of that dream becoming a reality.

If you didn’t see the email from this weekend, keep reading below. If you did see it, I wanted to update you with a progress report. Though it got off to a slow start initially, the fundraising has picked up some momentum thanks to the generosity of people that believe in me and want to help me make a difference in the world. I’m so excited to share we’ve now raised $372 to send to the school in India and helped cover all the expenses for my training at Magnus Northwest plus some towards Nutmeg Conservatory! This means we’re a little over half way to fully funding a borehole (well) that will provide access to clean water for a village of the students that attend the school in A. Konduru, India like the one in the photo above that I had the chance to celebrate while in India this past March. My heart is encouraged, we can reach this goal! But we’re almost out of time, down to just 4 days of the fundraising campaign. If you have considered giving, doing so right now will help us close that gap, if you have given and can think of others who would be interested in supporting the arts, encouraging a young developing dancer (that’s me!), and help get clean water to students in India, please share the campaign via email and your social media channels. Thank you all for your encouragement and support! Going into the studio today, I’m feeling like I can fly knowing so many people believe in me. ~Ophélia

Ophélia en pointe to reach her goals and be a voice for the voiceless.

Though she started “late” just 4 years ago at 11 years old, Ophélia continues to grow in pursuit of her dreams to be a ballerina. Now a trainee in the Portland Festival Ballet preprofessional trainee program and having gone to India this past spring, Ophélia’s goals, drive, and passion to use her art to be a voice for the voiceless and make a difference in the world have sharpened. Hear her heart in this video she made sharing more of what this means for her now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9wzWcV_gSs

Ways to support Ophélia going to summer dance intensives:

Donate via the Fundrazr campaign by clicking here.
Join the Facebook group.
Donate a pair of pointe shoes.
Mail cards, letters, and financial support.
Pray and leave encouraging messages on FB group.

Dear Friends,

This summer is shaping up to be another I will never forget, I hope you and your loved ones are well and enjoying the summer as well.

Last summer, I was able to expand my training experience to Chicago and Portland. I learned so much about myself, ballet and other ways of teaching from these opportunities. In the end these opportunities led to my family deciding to move to Portland so I could pursue my dancing career as a trainee in the Portland Festival Ballet under the training of John Magnus.

And it was all thanks to contributions from people like you.

Ballet is an expensive art form but one worth sacrificing for from feet to time to finances. As much as my family would like to be able to just pay for the expenses related to my dance training, we’ve had to get creative to find ways to cover the expense. Sharing the journey and the art with others, is one of the ways we’ve done that.

This year in the Pacific NorthWest has flown by and it’s time once again for focused summer training opportunities, known as Summer Intensives in the ballet world. This time I have determined that it would be best for me to continue training with Mr. Magnus here in Portland, but I’ve also been accepted at the Nutmeg Conservatory of Dance in Connecticut for part of the summer. The next stage of my training is in place; I’ve been accepted by both programs! I only need a little help from my friends (you!) to get me there. About $7,650 worth of help.

That’s a lot of money, but I have one more thing to share with you. Earlier this year I went with a group of artists to one of the most neglected areas of India to explore how we could use our art to help the Voiceless of the world. Here’s what I’ve decided: I want to donate 10% of all the money I raise to help a fledgeling school give an education and hope to the village children in A. Konduru, India. Plus, any donations I receive beyond my goal will also go to this school, 100 percent!

Will you help me pursue my dream career by supporting me in going to summer intensives?

If you would like to donate to help me reach my goals there are a couple of ways you can do so. If you have Facebook you can send a donation through the FundRazr campaign we have set up. If you would prefer, you can mail a check to go into the account designated for these funds.

Thank you for taking your time to read my plea, I know I’m being heard and it means a lot.

With love,

Ophélia