Luna Helm
Paris Opera Ballet Summer Intensive
“Your support helps talented students around the world achieve their dreams, I am so humbled to now be part of this extraordinary family whom you have supported so kindly and graciously. Ballet knows no boundaries and you create a more beautiful and unified world, in which art crosses all barriers of language and cultures. You make us ambassadors for the common language of dance. Once again I am deeply grateful for changing the world, one life at a time.”
Luna Helm, 16 years old, is currently at the Paris Opera Ballet School’s summer intensive. Her challenges have made her wise beyond her years and we are thrilled to support her dreams.
Yelyzaveta Lazovska
Zurich Dance Academy
“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the help and support you provide to Ukrainian children. I continue to do what I love, develop, and work to improve my skills during this difficult period for my country!”
Yelyzaveta Lazovska is a 16 yr old Ukrainian dancer at Zurich Dance Academy. Her family left everything in Ukraine to travel to Switzerland so Yelyzaveta could continue pursuing her dance dreams.
Polina Pikiner
La Scala Ballet Academy
“I’m really grateful to you, I now can see the peaceful skies and continue to do what I love. Thank you very much for making my big dream come true!”
Polina is 11 yrs old from Irpin, Ukraine. She has been dancing ballet since she was 4 years old. It is her life and she chooses this magical art as her profession. Polina was a student of Kyiv Stage Choreography College and preparing for the YAGP competition before the war. With the help of our partner, YAGP, she is now dancing at La Scala Ballet Academy in Italy.
Polina Chepyk
Academie voor Theater en Dans
“Thank you very much Angel Shine Foundation for making my dream possible to dance at the Dutch National Ballet School!”
A 17-year-old dancer from Kyiv who is a 2nd-year student at KSBC. When the war started, her training stopped and she practiced at home holding the chest of drawers. Polina is now at the Academie voor Theater en Dans in Amsterdam.
Alisa Garkavenko
Princess Grace Academy
“I can hardly find words to express my huge gratitude for your help so I can continue my education and training. I have learned a very important lesson, if you can help people in need, it may save their lives!”
When the war started, Alisa was a student of the Vaganova Academy. She evacuated from Russia and joined the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco, and will soon be joined by her mother and brother.
Martin Korol
Princess Grace Academy
“Allyson, I want to thank you for your continued generosity, you have become quite the known and respected “Godmother” among the YAGP dancers!” –Larissa Saveliev (YAGP Founder)
A 17-year-old dancer who came to the Polish border by himself from Khirkov, with nothing but a backpack and 50 Euros. We were able to also place him at the Princess Grace Academy, arranging for this transportation, ballet essentials (including clothes and shoes), scholarship, and housing.
Charley Toscano
Elite Classical Coaching, Southland Ballet
“I am so incredibly honored and thankful to be a part of the Angel Shine Foundation family. You truly have opened doors and given me so much. It is a blessing!”
Charley Toscano is a 10 year old dancer from San Diego. ASF awarded Charley a scholarship grant to Elite Classical Coaching and Southland Ballet. He won 3rd place in the YAGP competition.
Asahi Hagihara
BAE
“It is a true honor to be selected as an Angel Scholar and Dance Challenge Honorable Mention! I will remember this for the rest of my life.”
Asahi is a 16 yr old Japanese/American dancer at BAE who attended SAB and ABT JKO summer intensives. ASF awarded Asahi a scholarship for BAE’s summer program and he was awarded honorable mention for his Let Your Partner Shine video.
Crystal Huang
“I love the Angel Shine Foundation! Thank you so much for your generous support.”
In our goal to support gifted dancers nationwide, please welcome talented Crystal Huang from The Rock Center for Dance & Nevada School of Dance. She was selected by YAGP as the 1st Place Winner in Dallas.
Alecsia Lazarescu
Royal Ballet School
“I am very happy that you chose me to be your Angel Shine Scholar so that I can be closer to my dream. I will do my best in order to prove to you that your recognition is well deserved.”
Alecsia performed the lead role as Clara at the Ballet Theater Basel’s Nutcracker Performance and previously trained at the Ballet Schule Theater Basel. Alecsia is now dancing at Royal Ballet School.
Jenny Ku
Ballet Academy East
“Allyson, you are a big inspiration to me. You affected my life in an amazing way and I learn so much from you. Thank you ASF for reminding me that hard work will take you far in dance and in life. Love you!”
BAE (Ballet Academy East in NYC) student and Angel Shine Foundation scholar, Jenny Ku, shares how Ballet Academy East (BAE) has impacted her life as a dancer and a person.
Davide Riccardo
New York City Ballet
“Thank you so much for your generosity that helped me attend SAB for three years. My lifelong dream of dancing with NYCB Ballet came true thanks to your support!”
Davide Riccardo is a member of New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet. He was born in Messina, Italy and began his dance training at the age of 5. Davide entered SAB in 2015 and received multi-year scholarship support as an Angel Shine Scholar. He was awarded the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise, the Janice Levin Award and the Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists. Davide appeared on the cover of the NYCB season brochure.
Dominika Afanasenkov
New York City Ballet
“Without your financial support, I would not have had the opportunity to study at SAB and become a New York City Ballet apprentice. Every moment on stage is more magical than I could ever have imagined. Thank you for helping me reach this cherished point in my life!”
One of our scholars, Dominika, was recently featured in Disney+ Documentary, On Pointe. She is featured on the cover. Dominika is now an apprentice at NYC Ballet!
Makhila Cooke
Ballet Academy East
“I’m so grateful to receive the ASF scholarship enabling me to study at BAE. Thank you for your generosity. Because of your help, my dreams will one day become a reality.”
Makhila Cooke, an American, received an Angel Shine scholarship to BAE where she performed La Danza Curativa choreographed by Christopher Charles McDaniel. She is currently dancing at the Harlem School of the Arts.
Claire Smith
Ballet Academy East
“I want to thank ASF from the bottom of my heart. The impact that the ASF has had on my family and me is truly beautiful and your support has been life changing. Thanks to ASF, I can continue my training and get closer to my dream of becoming a professional dancer. I am forever grateful. I promise to always work hard and be the kind of person that you can be proud of!”
Claire Smith attended the Boston Ballet summer intensive and is currently training at Ballet Academy East.
Styles Dykes
What Moves You Competition
“Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity. I am overjoyed to be selected as the winner of this amazing scholarship. I can’t believe it! I will cherish this moment with all my heart!”
Styles was born and raised in Rochester, New York. Styles was the winner of ASF’s What Moves You? Dance Challenge. He played basketball, football, baseball and track but “nothing really felt as special as dance”. Styles won first place in contemporary dance and second in classical at YAGP 2020 competition. Styles performs for World of Dance on NBC.
Apolline Anquetil
Paris Opera Ballet
“I am very blessed to know that you are supporting me from across the ocean for my future adventure at the Paris Opera Ballet! I would like to also thank you for my summer intensive scholarship to San Francisco Ballet, it enriched my artistic aptitudes. This was a great opportunity to open my mind to new horizons and meet other young dancers from around the world. I realize how lucky I am to be your Angel Shine Scholar and will do my best to honor that position at all times.”
Apolline Anquetil is a professional ballerina with the Paris Opera Ballet. Apolline, a French citizen, studied at the Paris Opera Ballet School and Royal Ballet School. Apolline received her Angel Shine scholarship to attend the San Francisco Ballet summer intensive.
Martha Savin
Royal Ballet School
“I am deeply honored to have been chosen as a scholar by the Angel Shine Foundation. I am looking forward to start training at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco and can’t wait to see where my journey in the incredible world of ballet takes me.”
Martha Savin received a multi-year Angel Shine scholarship to the Princess Grace Academy Monaco. Martha was born in Romania and was the 2020 1st Place Winner in the Junior Classical Division at the YAGP Barcelona Competition.
Cypress Schaff
John Cranko School
“Thank you so much for recognizing Cypress and helping to support her dreams! She is one who simply MUST dance and the Angel Shine Foundation’s support is so helpful in keeping that dream going.”
– Cody Schaff (Cypress’ father)
Cypress Schaff competed in the YAGP 2021 Denver Semi-Final, where she won the Hope Award in the Pre-Competitive Age Division. She is an 11 year old dancer from Denver who is training at the John Cranko Ballet School in Stuttgart.
Jolie Rose Lombardo
Stuttgart Ballet
“Mrs. Allyson Tang, when I received your scholarship – I couldn’t believe that you would do something so wholeheartedly and kind for someone you have never met. My heart just melted and I started crying. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. You will never know exactly how much this means to me, and I am so grateful!”
Jolie Rose Lombardo was born in Texas and grew up in Georgia. At the age of 8 she began her ballet training. In 2016 she received a scholarship for the Orlando Ballet School. She won the Gold medal at the finals of the YAGP and received a scholarship for the John Cranko Schule. Jolie Rose Lombardo is an apprentice with the Stuttgart Ballet.
Kylie Williams
New York City Ballet
“Thank you so much for my BAE scholarship! I felt so much joy dancing and sharing the stage with my partner. I cannot wait for my summer intensive at SAB!”
Kylie Williams, an American, was awarded a multi-year Angel Shine scholarship at BAE and is an alumni of SAB. Kylie now dances at the New York City Ballet.
Milo Aveque
Paris Opera Ballet
“I want to thank you for funding my summer scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet School which allowed me to travel to America for the first time in my life. It was a delightful experience to attend company classes with talented dancers and instructors. Thank you very much for giving me this chance to progress in my passion and dream profession!”
Milo Aveque was the first student at the Paris Opera Ballet School to receive an Angel Shine scholarship to study at San Francisco Ballet summer intensive for consecutive years. Milo now dances professionally with the Paris Opera Ballet company living his dream on stage.
Tristan Massa
Royal Ballet School
“Thank you very much for awarding Tristan’s scholarship at BAE. He was ecstatic to hear the news! We are all very grateful to have been a beneficiary of your generosity!” -Jenn Massa (Tristan’s mother)
Tristan is an alumni of BAE and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. He is currently dancing at Royal Ballet School.
Anabelle Camperoux
Princess Grace Academy Monaco Summer Intensive
“If I didn’t have my family and dancing in my life, I wouldn’t even know why I would be on earth! I am also a Christian and place my faith in God. Thank you for your precious help!”
Anabelle is a courageous Angel Shine scholar who has previously danced at the Paris Opera Ballet School’s summer internship to develop her technique. This year, she continues to shine through intensives & workshops at the Academy Princesse Grâce, the Russian Masters Ballet, and the Conservatoire de danse de Nice.
