Imagine a young boy from the favelas of Rio, with a dream to dance on the world stage.
Today, Ballet Rising invites you to learn Daniel Mendonça’s story.
Meet Daniel Mendonça, an aspiring 15 year old dancer from Rocinha, second largest favela in Brazil, located in Rio de Janeiro.
Daniel has been offered a scholarship to study at the Dutch National Ballet Academy that can cover his tuition fees, but not his living costs.
Ballet Rising is joining forces with the Dutch National Ballet Academy to pursue Daniel’s dream to become a professional ballet dancer.
Together we plan to raise funds to bring Daniel from Rio de Janeiro to Amsterdam and cover his living costs.
“Daniel Mendonça was a candidate at the Youth America Grand Prix Brazil in the Autumn 2023 when I was a jury member. Daniel immediately stood out in ballet class. He has all the physical attributes to become a classical dancer and on top of that showed already good technical skill, musicality and coordination. Furthermore, I was incredibly impressed by his natural ability when it comes to partnering skills, which he showed in the pas de deux competition as well as his great stage presence and sheer joy of dance!”
Ernst Meisner,
*
Associate director Talent Development and artistic director Junior Company,
Dutch National Ballet
Ballet in Brazil faces numerous challenges, notably access to quality training for individuals like Daniel Mendonça from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds such as the favelas. Daniel’s exceptional talent and dedication to dance make him an ideal candidate for further education.
We believe that providing him with the opportunity to complete his studies here will not only allow him to refine his skills but also enable him to reach his full potential as a dancer.
The Dutch National Ballet Academy prides itself on its world-class faculty and resources, which will provide Daniel with the necessary support and guidance to excel in his studies.
Starting in September 2024, as Daniel may enter the final year of the Preliminary Course at the Dutch National Ballet Academy, we require financial support for various expenses essential to education and overall wellbeing.
Do you want to join us in shaping the future of dance education?
Prefer another way to contribute to our mission?
Reach out to us, and we will find the best solution to make a difference.
Join Our Community of Supporters
We are deeply grateful for the generosity of those who have contributed to Daniel Mendonça’s journey towards becoming a professional ballet dancer.
To honor and recognize your support, we would like to list the names of our donors in order of contribution on this page.
If you would like to be included, please let us know.
Principal Donors (€500 and above)
- Melvin Keijzer and The Boardroom
Soloist Donors (€100 – €499)
- Egbert Wolf
- Michael K. HudsonXXX
- Clare Todd
- 7 anonymous donors
Corps de Ballet Donors (€1 – €99)
- 15 anonymous donors
Thank you to all our supporters for your invaluable contributions. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the world of ballet.