Dancing My Way to New York City!

Emily Hernández is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Beth Hernandez.

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Hi, my name is Emily, I am 17 years old, and I am a mover. I am currently a competiton company member with Tilt Dance Company in Yukon Oklahoma, as well as an assistant teacher to the little ones. Outside of dance, I am a third year drama student under one of the most respected theatre teachers in Oklahoma, the Vice President of my high school's chapter of the National Honor Society, and a current delegate of the American Legions Girls State. As a dancer of 15, nearly 16 years, it is easy for me to proudly say it is my passion. I have spent countless, wonderful hours in the dance studio, trying to perfect my turns, batments, flexibility and fluidity, which have all led me to this moment- my acceptance into the Rockette's Summer Intensive. I received the e-mail late on a Monday night, right after recieving the news of my acceptance into Girls State. Time stopped as I read that letter... "Emily, I would like to be the first to congragulate you on your acceptance to RSI!" My mother and I jumped up and down and all around in our PJ's, making giddy phone calls to my Aunt's and Grandparents. Being a Rockette has been something I never imagined myself doing as I traveled through dance. I had always loved to watch them on the Macy's Day Parade, and had always admired their flawless percision. I never thought I had what it takes to be one of the golden girls.
So here I am today, heels ready, kicks high, spirits higher, ready to dance my way to NYC. I'm raising this money to help relieve financial strain off my parents. I have been invited to NYC once before, and they did everything and anything to get me there. Their sacrifice was so great for me then, but the situation we are in today really doesn't allow for the same type of expression. My Dad, a once local radio personality for The Franchise, was let go 2 weeks before Christmas in 2014. He was not allowed by his former employer to work for a full year if he wanted to recieve his compensation. We were now reliant solely on my Mother, a receptionist for a local dentist, to pay the bills now and the bills to come while the clock was ticking away for my Dad. A dancers tuition isn't cheap, and I feared that I would have to quit. To me, that money was important for providing for my family, rather than for my 9 classes a week. The year slowly went by and my Dad began looking for a job. He was blessed to find a managment job through one of his friends, and trained to become the General Manager of a Sleep Inn and Suites. He and my Mother were both happily working, my Mother with two jobs now, and life began to look up. But even with all their hours spent in an office, their combined paycheck wasn't even close to half of what my father was previously making... Which is still true to this day.
This money will be used for my plane tickets, and hopefully my Mom's. For our hotel room that we will be living in for 8 days. For the first $1,000 installment we owe just to say I want to come to the intensive. And for the thousands of dollars it costs just to dance in the pressence of the Rockette's. I need some of this money within the next month... Our first installment is due mid April. The sooner I have it though, the better. It will be a relief for my parents to know they have secured my place there.
Dance is like therapy to me. It is what I use to lose and find myself all at the same time. I want it to be in my adult life, somehow, someway. I want to be a Rockette, and live in the city that never sleeps, and dance my way all around the world with them. This is my dream. This is what I want. Without fundrasisng, I won't be able to take this first step on my path forward.
My gratitude has no bounds for those who chose to just read this. For those who donate something. For those who see this page and click on another. I am thankful for this oppourtunity, even if I don't get to pursue it. This is my dream to chase, and even if it doesn't work out, I have another dream of college, Seattle and traveling the world somehow.