Dancer Hanna Chudinova after death of Zhan Mishel

Hi, I'm Kathleen Noblin, executive director of Ventura County Ballet. On behalf of Ventura County Ballet and our Board of Directors, I'm asking for your help for Hanna Chudinova, a lovely young Ukrainian ballet dancer now in the US whose husband Zhan Mishel Panchuk, 25, died suddenly the week before Christmas. Hanna and Zhan Mishel were rehearsing to perform in VCB's Nutcracker when he became ill. Hanna, also just 25, bravely carried on and danced beautifully the entire run of the shows to delight audiences despite her husband's illness.

Zhan Mishel, 25, had been diagnosed with metastatic cancer in late November, but he was given a good prognosis. Tragically he died unexpectedly just three weeks later. Zhan Mishel previously danced with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara, and both had been scheduled to dance in Kyiv Ballet's tour of the US.

Hanna, is now alone in the US without any family and is bravely trying to survive and cope with the loss of her husband. All her family and Zhan Mishel's family are in Kyiv, Ukraine. She desperately needs help with arrangements for Zhan Mishel and meeting her daily living expenses as she builds a new life for herself in the United States.

Please help Hanna as she navigates this difficult transition in her young life. All funds raised will go directly to Hanna.