Ivyana's (NEW YORK CITY) Dream!
Donation protected
My name is Ivyana Robinson. I am 15 years old and very passionate about my craft. I am aspiring to become a professional dancer! I believe this is definitely my year to shine. I have worked extremely hard for the past 14 months, and have accomplished so many things both artisticallyand academically. At the end of my 8th grade year, I was drafted into the National Junior Honor Society! So I owe it to myself to keep striving, so that I can reach my fullest potential.
In January of 2014, I had an audition in Chicago Illinois, for ChiArts, (Chicago High School of the Arts), the school I attend right now. At the time, I had no idea that audition would prepare me for the rest of my life. It was exciting, but very intense. I was 1 out of 1300 freshmen to audition. That day, I had a good feeling in my heart, and knew that I had just done something great.
Being a student at ChiArts, has given me an opportunity to grow even further as a dancer in my technical training and ability. Being in a professional artistic environment, surrounded by supportive teachers and other goal driven students, keeps me focused and is pushing me to strive past what I thought I could ever do.
I train 15 hours a week in my conservatory. I am learning more and more each day about my body, how to prevent injuries and how to take better care of myself. I am learning what dance can really do for me. I have always been a hard worker and have loved dance my entire life, but often worried when I was growing up, about my weight. I felt big and awkward at times, but knew I wasn’t the only one going through this weird stage. I knew that I couldn’t let this get in the way of me focusing on my dance career, aside from how insecure I was feeling. I couldn’t let those thoughts get into my head. I knew that I needed to get serious.
I’m very happy that I have family and friends to support what I do. I’m glad that I was pushed to work hard and never give up. I thank my mother for “EVERYTHING” she has done to help me be successful in my life! I grew up in a family of dancers who shared the same dream. I got my start when I was just 2 years old at my aunt’s dance studio in Boston called The Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts. My mother and I moved to Gary Indiana when I was 4. I can remember going into the studio at DancExcel, (my current dance school) by myself when I was a little girl and dancing for hours, non-stop. I loved making up my own choreography. I even won a Dance-A-Thon, one year. On the dance floor is where my heart was then, and still is now. I can appreciate DancExcel for teaching me how to get into a dancer’s mindset at such an early age “This is my life, this is who I am”.
I want to thank my DancExcel family, my mom, Ms. Dionne, my aunt, my grandmother, my uncle and cousins, MY ENTIRE FAMILY, and everyone else who has ever believed in me. I appreciate you because you have inspired me to be GREAT at what I do. You have given me the courage and confidence to pursue my career professionally.
This past January, I auditioned for three different 2015 summer intensives; Alvin Ailey, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and for Homer Bryant, at the Chicago Multicultural Dance Center. I can honestly say that I felt more confident auditioning this time around, overall. I had a lot of support, felt better prepared because I knew more ballet terms, and had been consistently improving upon my technique.
When I entered into the studio at the Alvin Ailey audition, I knew that it was time to WORK and prove what I was made of. So immediately I took in and applied every single note that I’ve ever gotten from any dance teacher I’ve ever had. I was serious because I knew that going to a summer intensive was so mandatory for my career. I want to go far. I want to be the best I can ever be. I want to be remembered…So with that in mind, I left my heart on the dance floor.
When I got the acceptance letter to attend Alvin Ailey this summer in New York City, I felt so accomplished. I have been working really hard. I was excited to know that going to Ailey over the summer, would definitely make me a stronger dancer.
I am happy to announce that I have also been accepted into Dance Theatre of Harlem in NYC, as well as CMDC with Homer Bryant in Chicago. Being in a performing arts high school with other kids who want to dance as much as I do, has helped me tremendously. We all work together to get to the top and have all been chosen to attend summer dance intensives all over the country.
I have chosen to attend the Alvin Ailey 5 week summer intensive in New York and would like some help getting there. I am trying to raise $7000.00! Can you please help me reach my goal. All proceeds will go toward my tuition cost, room and board, apparel, and travel expenses.
Any
gift
, large or small is truly a blessing and I thank you in advance for helping me make a dream come true. I will continue to make you proud.
Sincerely,
Ivyana Y. Robinson
In January of 2014, I had an audition in Chicago Illinois, for ChiArts, (Chicago High School of the Arts), the school I attend right now. At the time, I had no idea that audition would prepare me for the rest of my life. It was exciting, but very intense. I was 1 out of 1300 freshmen to audition. That day, I had a good feeling in my heart, and knew that I had just done something great.
Being a student at ChiArts, has given me an opportunity to grow even further as a dancer in my technical training and ability. Being in a professional artistic environment, surrounded by supportive teachers and other goal driven students, keeps me focused and is pushing me to strive past what I thought I could ever do.
I train 15 hours a week in my conservatory. I am learning more and more each day about my body, how to prevent injuries and how to take better care of myself. I am learning what dance can really do for me. I have always been a hard worker and have loved dance my entire life, but often worried when I was growing up, about my weight. I felt big and awkward at times, but knew I wasn’t the only one going through this weird stage. I knew that I couldn’t let this get in the way of me focusing on my dance career, aside from how insecure I was feeling. I couldn’t let those thoughts get into my head. I knew that I needed to get serious.
I’m very happy that I have family and friends to support what I do. I’m glad that I was pushed to work hard and never give up. I thank my mother for “EVERYTHING” she has done to help me be successful in my life! I grew up in a family of dancers who shared the same dream. I got my start when I was just 2 years old at my aunt’s dance studio in Boston called The Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts. My mother and I moved to Gary Indiana when I was 4. I can remember going into the studio at DancExcel, (my current dance school) by myself when I was a little girl and dancing for hours, non-stop. I loved making up my own choreography. I even won a Dance-A-Thon, one year. On the dance floor is where my heart was then, and still is now. I can appreciate DancExcel for teaching me how to get into a dancer’s mindset at such an early age “This is my life, this is who I am”.
I want to thank my DancExcel family, my mom, Ms. Dionne, my aunt, my grandmother, my uncle and cousins, MY ENTIRE FAMILY, and everyone else who has ever believed in me. I appreciate you because you have inspired me to be GREAT at what I do. You have given me the courage and confidence to pursue my career professionally.
This past January, I auditioned for three different 2015 summer intensives; Alvin Ailey, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and for Homer Bryant, at the Chicago Multicultural Dance Center. I can honestly say that I felt more confident auditioning this time around, overall. I had a lot of support, felt better prepared because I knew more ballet terms, and had been consistently improving upon my technique.
When I entered into the studio at the Alvin Ailey audition, I knew that it was time to WORK and prove what I was made of. So immediately I took in and applied every single note that I’ve ever gotten from any dance teacher I’ve ever had. I was serious because I knew that going to a summer intensive was so mandatory for my career. I want to go far. I want to be the best I can ever be. I want to be remembered…So with that in mind, I left my heart on the dance floor.
When I got the acceptance letter to attend Alvin Ailey this summer in New York City, I felt so accomplished. I have been working really hard. I was excited to know that going to Ailey over the summer, would definitely make me a stronger dancer.
I am happy to announce that I have also been accepted into Dance Theatre of Harlem in NYC, as well as CMDC with Homer Bryant in Chicago. Being in a performing arts high school with other kids who want to dance as much as I do, has helped me tremendously. We all work together to get to the top and have all been chosen to attend summer dance intensives all over the country.
I have chosen to attend the Alvin Ailey 5 week summer intensive in New York and would like some help getting there. I am trying to raise $7000.00! Can you please help me reach my goal. All proceeds will go toward my tuition cost, room and board, apparel, and travel expenses.
Any
gift
, large or small is truly a blessing and I thank you in advance for helping me make a dream come true. I will continue to make you proud.
Sincerely,
Ivyana Y. Robinson
Organizer
Sherice Grant
Organizer
Chicago, IL