Redirected to help Karina Soldatova

Updates with donation level "thank yous" forthcoming.  

We are a group of people were devastated to hear the news that an international dancer who has spent 7 years abroad was brought home to most prized city of her youth and performed exquisitely.  She however will leave this city, possibly without a job, after she has spent 20 years of her life training rigorously for her career, unless there is something that Philadelphia residents and ballet enthusiasts anywhere around the globe can do to stop that.  

The major issue is that the budget of the ballet company, PA Ballet, can not afford her salary and that of a Principal male partner to dance with her next season.  We are thinking that by funding their contracts for one season, we will be showing the company that we would love to embrace their gifts and for them to keep Sara here, while a tall star male dancer will be able to displayed his gifts for us here in Philadelphia as well.  

The funds will be presented to the Ballet Company as a proposal, with the sole and exclusive intent for the funds to be as their salaries for one season.  Should the company FOR ANY REASON turn our proposal down, we will take a vote amongst donors regarding to which charity the funds can be given.  

There are many reasons why Sara would like to continue to live and dance in this home country and what-she-counts as her home CITY.  It was her favorite city of childhood and she loves being here now even more than ever.  She has already formed a number of new  kindship types of friendships, has quickly reconnected with long missed mentors and friends, and has very deep bonds here already.  Pennsylvania Ballet company sought her out a year and a half ago as she was in the midst of her 7 year life in Europe.   She was hesitant because she loved her job there, but she had longed to be back in the states for her entire 7 years abroad. 

She lights up for the audience and the kids when she dancers.  She is a rare diamond, to use the words of her boss.  She can do roles for short dancers and for taller ones, which is very rare for any dancer who possesses gorgeous languid, fluidy arms and strong legs of great length, which her colleagues endearingly refer to as "gams."   They refer to her as the Barbie ballerina who can actually dance.  Some say she is a tall drink of water.  

Whatever the metapor, it would be difficult to miss that her time in Europe served her well.  Her director said to her that she has "everything" -- a very well refined technical technique, a lovely artistry, and fluid arms, long legs, arched long feet that add to the line of the leg, and neverending legs.  She is known here as the dancer who is "a Barbie who can dance," since she is so tall.   Long limbs ("lines") in ballet are considered a desired asset, but it is uncommon to possess both and posses the strength and capacity to carry a full length ballet  What a shame it woudl be to deprieve this city of at least a year to see her blossom here.  She is a very rare creature, and yet so humble and generous of spirit.  

We would like to give her the chance to stay with us, to become the CROWD FUNDED city of PHILADELPHIA Ballerina.  If you take a moment to look on the page of PA Ballet, they display individual dancers, and when you click to view an individual's page who has a sponsor, the sponsor will appear under the dancer's name. Would you give anything possible just to give her that same chance, please? .. but this would be a unique way to sponsor a dancer, since more it would take a community to do so.  We intend to create a link where anyone who discovers that Sara is the CROWDFUNDED (GofundMe) dancer will be able to see the names of all who support her.  This grants many a chance to be named as "sponsor" of this STILL-wanted ballerina.  Those who don't wish to be named on the list, will be given the chance to be anonymous.  AND:  once we tell Sara about the fundraiser, we will ask her to find creative ways to express gratitudes.  

She already feels at home in Philadelphia.  It is a reconnection to a cherished segment of her past / childhood and has already   Very special people are here for her, as well as new people, and a very warm and wonderful audience.  It is indeed the city of LOVE. 

Sara states that the two main things she dances for beyond the love itself for dance are: 

1) the audience, the parents, children, and ballet fans old, young, and inbetween. 
2) the great priviledge to be back home and in this city of love that she truly loves the most.

During the process of funds being raised, we will also circulate a petition, which will ask all of us, along with many others, whether or not backers in monetary form, to give support in signature only, with the great goal of keeping Sara here.  But what matters most now is to raise funds as rapidly as possible, or we will be unable to present our proposal successfully.  The only way that Sara has a chance is if PA Ballet can find the funds for her and, ideally, a partner, next season.  The rules will not allow her to sign onto a second season without a paycheck, even as she is that serious about her wish to remain dancing here that she would want to do so. 

Just to think of how exhilarating it will be for her and for us that we will work together in the hopes that she will not have to leave after she has bared just begun her time with us.

More photos and links and videoes will be added or updated along the way :) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4PTfE8qnv4

Scott Simpson
Marlena Juniman
Kevin Martin
Sandra Pryor
Peg Pflugfelder
Ilona Deutsche
Patsy Dunn
Markje Van T Schip 
Claudia Folts
Lilian Ameling
Rachel Aimee Warender
Tom Coffee
.. and many many others are behind the conception of the page's effort and goal and the creation of this page.  And will severally be adding photos and information about Sara as well as about this campaign.