

ESPERANÇA
In 2019 Ballet Rising went to Brazil to tell the story of Daniel Robert Silva, a rising star in the Dutch National Ballet who comes from humble beginnings. Dani Silva embodies the passion and love of art that inspires many to dream big and go far. We are proud to present his story. We invite you to join us on YouTube, free for everyone to … Continue reading ESPERANÇA

Karmil Ballet Fund
My name is Karmil Suliman. I was born a stateless refugee in Syria where I began my ballet studies at the age of 9 at Enana Dance Theater in Damascus. In 2021 I was awarded a scholarship to study at the National Academy of Dance in Rome, Italy, after winning the gold medal in the Ballet Beyond Borders International Ballet Competition. Since I was little, … Continue reading Karmil Ballet Fund

EP0032 CECILIA ILIESIU | GLOBAL
Global Ballet Teachers: Our Mission Our mission at Global Ballet Teachers is to promote diversity and equity in the arts by creating free community-lead courses, classes, and resources to educate and empower ballet teachers around the world. The Reach Our community has members in over 40 countries from Nigeria, Ghana, Mexico, Russia, Argentina, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa to name a few. Global Ballet Teachers … Continue reading EP0032 CECILIA ILIESIU | GLOBAL

Reunion In Rome
In November of 2021 Syrian dancer Karmel Suliman was reunited with his friend and fellow artist Ahmad Joudeh after the devastating war in their home country tore them apart. In this interview discover how Karmel moved from Syria to Rome to follow his passion and how he hopes to one-day help rebuild his country through art and dance. It’s an inspiring story and it was … Continue reading Reunion In Rome

EP0031 AMIRUDDIN SHAH | INDIA
Amiruddin Shah was born in India and started dancing at the age of 13 at India Danceworx under the direction of Yehuda Ma’or. In 2016, he received a full scholarship to study at Oregon Ballet Theatre with Artistic Director Kevin Irving. While with the school, he was chosen to perform in the company production of Swan Lake. In 2017, following his time in Oregon, he … Continue reading EP0031 AMIRUDDIN SHAH | INDIA

EP0030 MINDLEAPS | GLOBAL
Mission MindLeaps uses dance to develop the cognitive skills and social-emotional learning of at-risk youth to ensure that they can succeed in school, enter the workplace and leap forward in life. About MindLeaps Founded in 2005 (as RDDC: Rebecca Davis Dance Company) by social entrepreneur Rebecca Davis, the company was originally based in Philadelphia with the goal of building awareness of social justice issues through … Continue reading EP0030 MINDLEAPS | GLOBAL

MINDLEAPS USES DANCE TO SUPPORT MARGINALIZED CHILDREN ACROSS AFRICA
Founded in 2014, MindLeaps is a nonprofit organization that deploys dance to support street kids and other marginalized children in locations across Africa and the Balkans. Not only did the organization receive significant attention thanks to their partnership with ballerina Misty Copeland, but the tools they use demonstrate the way that dance can be an effective means to expand the horizons of young people who face serious financial and educational obstacles in their lives. We chatted with Executive Director Rebecca Davis and International Coordinator Eugene Dushime to learn more about the organization. Continue reading MINDLEAPS USES DANCE TO SUPPORT MARGINALIZED CHILDREN ACROSS AFRICA

EP0029 TIM PODESTA | AUSTRALIA
Deeply rooted in the creative community, we hold our values dearly. Inclusiveness, diversity, purpose and authenticity are beliefs that drive us to go beyond. Projection Dance uses dance to make a difference, inspire change and be a fearless voice and active advocate for innovation and dialogue surrounding the development of arts at this time. We share a natural affinity with expressive movement; like all strong … Continue reading EP0029 TIM PODESTA | AUSTRALIA

EP0028 AHMAD JOUDEH | SYRIA
Meet Ahmad Joudeh, borne a stateless refugee from Syria he came to the Netherlands after the incredible documentary Dance Or Die. Watch this astonishing in depth interview, where he shares how he was born in a refugee camp, was stateless for 30 years, but loved dance and escaped problems by immersing himself into his passion. It is an incredible story of daily bombings, narrow escapes, … Continue reading EP0028 AHMAD JOUDEH | SYRIA

EP0027 JANINE YOUNES | LEBANON
Meet Janine Younes who had to leave her native Lebanon because of the situation in the Middle-East and came to Amsterdam. She gave us an insight into Ballet in Lebanon, the first ballet school founded by one of her teachers and how she herself discovered ballet only at the age of 20! There was no stopping her after that and the first 4 years she … Continue reading EP0027 JANINE YOUNES | LEBANON