Victoria's dream
Donation protected
Hi Everyone. My name is Victoria.
As a child, the love to dance came deep from within me. Through my carefree childhood, I danced without thought and experienced how creativity occurs organically. There were no boundaries, nothing stopping me from experiencing my imagination through movement.
11 years later, I am a dancer. I dance to bring meaning, to bring beauty, to bring possibility, and to bring inspiration and hope into this world. I dance for clarity. I dance to acquire a sound mind and body. I dance because it makes me complete, and when I am complete, I am a better person.
The right path for me is following my passion. My passion continues to lead me towards a professional ballet career on stage. Although it is a lofty goal, with the right amount of determination mixed in with the best training, it is possible. It means perseverance and sacrifice. It means working hard on my technique and artistry; trading in prom for pointe shoes, exchanging a traditional school for an online education, and giving up the security of family and home to move far away for better training. I know in my heart that it is an attainable goal. Sadly, this attainable goal has taken a financial toll on my family.
This past year I attended an international competition in Toronto called Youth America Grand Prix or better known in the ballet world as YAGP. YAGP is one of the world’s largest global network of dance. Its mission is to support and develop world class dancers ages 9 - 19 by providing scholarship, audition, performance, and education opportunities. Each year, over 10,000 dancers compete in 25 different US cities and 10 international locations. It is at these semi finals, the panel of judges choose 1200 of the worlds most promising dancers to move onto the Finals in New York. The dancers compete again, where only 24 move on to the final round held on Lincoln center stage.
In March of 2018, I attended YAGP semi-finals in Toronto where I achieved the highest over all prize for all of my solos and was asked to attend the finals in NewYork. New York was such a wonderful experience. I felt blessed to be sharing the stage with so many incredible dancers. To my surprise, I made top 24 and was asked to dance on Lincoln Centre stage. It didn't end there. I received many scholarships to attend various top level schools and companies all across the world, but it’s a bitter-sweet thing when you are asked to join them. Don’t get me wrong, the opportunities are amazing, but the high cost of traveling to these locations have forced me to decline many of the offers.
Also at YAGP, I received a special invite to an extremely prestigious competition in Switzerland called Prix De Lausanne. So if YAGP is a top level international competition, Prix de Lausanne is another step above this. It is considered the world’s best ballet competition and most dancers only dream of attending. The selection process is extremely difficult to get through. Out of thousands of applications each year, they only accept up to 80 dancers. Normally, dancers from around the world send in a video to apply, take a health test, submit a detailed application and finish it off with a few photos and a payment for the opportunity to apply. Then a jury comprised of nine internationally renowned dance teachers and company directors representing different countries and various styles of ballet select the candidates to join the competition in Lausanne Switzerland.
This year at YAGP finals, the director of Prix de Lausanne watched from the audience. She approached me after to say that she was extremely impressed with my artistry which is not normally present at these competitions. She then honored me with a direct entrance and scholarship to attend the prestigious Prix de Lausanne competition in February 2019. Dancers that attend this competition, leave with large scholarships to schools all around the world and/or company jobs. It is truly a spring board for any dancers career. Everyone that is important in the dance industry attends this event and best of all, everyone can watch through the live broadcast on the internet.
What an incredible honour to be asked to join them. Now I just need to train really hard and find a way to raise over $14,350.00 to get to Switzerland. I will have to pay for flights for my mom and I as well as my coach.($5000.00) Then there is hotel costs ($4000.00) and costumes ($1500.00). The private lessons to prepare ($1500.00), studio rentals ( $750.00) and the pointe shoes to train in ($115.00 pair...need 10 pairs $1200.00) finally classes while I'm there ( $400.00). This ballet training is a serious financial commitment. Because of the intensity in my training schedule and school, I am not able to take on a part-time job. Every dollar I can raise through this “go fund me” account will not only bring me closer to my dreams, but it will also help to alleviate the financial burden my ballet training has placed on my family.
Thank you for listening to my story and helping to support my dream.
website - https://www.victoriawardell.com
instagram - https://www.instagram.com/victoria.wardell
facebook - https://www.facebook.com/victoria.wardell.754
you tube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad7sDMVSKFw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sagvcM5bbSI
As a child, the love to dance came deep from within me. Through my carefree childhood, I danced without thought and experienced how creativity occurs organically. There were no boundaries, nothing stopping me from experiencing my imagination through movement.
11 years later, I am a dancer. I dance to bring meaning, to bring beauty, to bring possibility, and to bring inspiration and hope into this world. I dance for clarity. I dance to acquire a sound mind and body. I dance because it makes me complete, and when I am complete, I am a better person.
The right path for me is following my passion. My passion continues to lead me towards a professional ballet career on stage. Although it is a lofty goal, with the right amount of determination mixed in with the best training, it is possible. It means perseverance and sacrifice. It means working hard on my technique and artistry; trading in prom for pointe shoes, exchanging a traditional school for an online education, and giving up the security of family and home to move far away for better training. I know in my heart that it is an attainable goal. Sadly, this attainable goal has taken a financial toll on my family.
This past year I attended an international competition in Toronto called Youth America Grand Prix or better known in the ballet world as YAGP. YAGP is one of the world’s largest global network of dance. Its mission is to support and develop world class dancers ages 9 - 19 by providing scholarship, audition, performance, and education opportunities. Each year, over 10,000 dancers compete in 25 different US cities and 10 international locations. It is at these semi finals, the panel of judges choose 1200 of the worlds most promising dancers to move onto the Finals in New York. The dancers compete again, where only 24 move on to the final round held on Lincoln center stage.
In March of 2018, I attended YAGP semi-finals in Toronto where I achieved the highest over all prize for all of my solos and was asked to attend the finals in NewYork. New York was such a wonderful experience. I felt blessed to be sharing the stage with so many incredible dancers. To my surprise, I made top 24 and was asked to dance on Lincoln Centre stage. It didn't end there. I received many scholarships to attend various top level schools and companies all across the world, but it’s a bitter-sweet thing when you are asked to join them. Don’t get me wrong, the opportunities are amazing, but the high cost of traveling to these locations have forced me to decline many of the offers.
Also at YAGP, I received a special invite to an extremely prestigious competition in Switzerland called Prix De Lausanne. So if YAGP is a top level international competition, Prix de Lausanne is another step above this. It is considered the world’s best ballet competition and most dancers only dream of attending. The selection process is extremely difficult to get through. Out of thousands of applications each year, they only accept up to 80 dancers. Normally, dancers from around the world send in a video to apply, take a health test, submit a detailed application and finish it off with a few photos and a payment for the opportunity to apply. Then a jury comprised of nine internationally renowned dance teachers and company directors representing different countries and various styles of ballet select the candidates to join the competition in Lausanne Switzerland.
This year at YAGP finals, the director of Prix de Lausanne watched from the audience. She approached me after to say that she was extremely impressed with my artistry which is not normally present at these competitions. She then honored me with a direct entrance and scholarship to attend the prestigious Prix de Lausanne competition in February 2019. Dancers that attend this competition, leave with large scholarships to schools all around the world and/or company jobs. It is truly a spring board for any dancers career. Everyone that is important in the dance industry attends this event and best of all, everyone can watch through the live broadcast on the internet.
What an incredible honour to be asked to join them. Now I just need to train really hard and find a way to raise over $14,350.00 to get to Switzerland. I will have to pay for flights for my mom and I as well as my coach.($5000.00) Then there is hotel costs ($4000.00) and costumes ($1500.00). The private lessons to prepare ($1500.00), studio rentals ( $750.00) and the pointe shoes to train in ($115.00 pair...need 10 pairs $1200.00) finally classes while I'm there ( $400.00). This ballet training is a serious financial commitment. Because of the intensity in my training schedule and school, I am not able to take on a part-time job. Every dollar I can raise through this “go fund me” account will not only bring me closer to my dreams, but it will also help to alleviate the financial burden my ballet training has placed on my family.
Thank you for listening to my story and helping to support my dream.
website - https://www.victoriawardell.com
instagram - https://www.instagram.com/victoria.wardell
facebook - https://www.facebook.com/victoria.wardell.754
you tube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad7sDMVSKFw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sagvcM5bbSI
Organizer and beneficiary
Victoria Wardell
Organizer
Richmond, BC
Mark Wardell
Beneficiary