Ballet Rising

At Ballet Rising, we are extremely proud to have made Daniel Mendonça’s dream come true: studying at the Dutch National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam.
We wish him an academic year full of learning, personal and artistic growth, new friendships, and experiences that will shape his path as a dancer.
May this be only the beginning of a brilliant and inspiring career. 🌟

Group photo from the 25/26 academic

📷 by

At long last has arrived in Amsterdam ready dance! 🕺🇳🇱

Thank you again to everyone who has made this happen! Special thanks to 🤩for her tireless efforts assisting with visas, housing, fundraising, and coordinating between Brazil and Europe. Also thank you so much to my man 🇧🇷😎 for helping Daniel settling into his new life in the Netherlands.

We will keep you posted on Daniel’s progress but for now we wish him well and hope his adjustment goes smooth! 🙏

🎉 BIG NEWS from Ballet Rising! 🎉

Thanks to YOUR support, we’ve reached a historic milestone—Daniel Mendonça is heading to the Dutch National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam for a full year! 🇧🇷✈️🇳🇱
From crowdfunding to workshops and a generous grant from Stichting Vrederijk, you helped cover his living expenses, visa, travel & more. 🙌

Daniel just swept top prizes at Brazil’s Passo de Arte Grand Prix, shining among 3,000 dancers from across South America. His journey is only beginning—and YOU made it possible. 🌟

Special thanks go to Melvin Keijzer, The Boardroom Amsterdam, Daniela Bertolli, Anna Ol, Zhembrovskyy Ballet Dance and Fitness, Global Dance Open, and Stichting Vrederijkfor their generous contributions, alongside every supporter who donated or joined our workshops. 💖

As a young organization run by Laura and me on our own time, Ballet Rising is fueled by passion and a commitment to change. This summer, we’re taking time off to welcome the newest member of the Ballet Rising team—our daughter, Cala, due August 7th. This personal milestone fills us with joy, but it also underscores the importance of your support. As we balance family and our mission, your continued donations are critical to sustain our operations and drive bold projects, like an upcoming initiative in India that will bring ballet to new communities. 🌍

We’re bursting with excitement for what’s next! Join us to make ballet a global force—donate today to fuel Daniel’s journey and ignite projects like our India initiative. Together, we’ll take Ballet Rising’s mission to new heights. 🤍🤍🤍

Ballet Rising wishes you a Merry Christmas! 🎄✨ May your holidays be filled with joy, love, and inspiration. Here’s to a season of beauty and a bright year ahead! ”