WE DID IT!!!! THE CAMPAIGN WAS A SUCCESS!!! THANK YOU ALL!!!

THANK YOU!!!!

THE CAMPAIGN WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!!!!

This is it, here we are.
Thanks for reading.

Support Team

We did it! 100% Thank You All , now what?

WOW! Thanks to our friends family and contributors for making this possible!we have reached our goal of 3500 euros funding to cover the cost of Avah's commute...

There may be some who still want to support Avah with a contribution. For those who want to know more, here is a quote from our Indigogo Campaign FAQ section:

Q: What will you do with money that exceeds your goal?

A: Extra contribution funds would go towards the tuition and gear for Avah's ballet education for this year and the 2015/16 Season. For example her (many pointe) shoes, and ballet clothing.

And the rest of the story..

We took a chance to try the crowd funding route to sponsor Avah.
Because of the cost involved, Avah's commute seemed a high goal by itself and really we are pleased, beyond what can be explained here in this blog, that we have been so well received and supported. There are many costs which need to be paid for beyond the travel costs; including her shoes and outfits (every year a different color coinciding with the academic year), her tuition is also increasing every year as well.

What can you do to contribute?

We are offering photographs of Avah for purchase, if you contribute 30 euros you can receive one of these photographs with a personal thank you message.
This reward for your contribution is called a 'Perk'. The support generated by these contributions goes toward her commute and the other ballet academy costs mentioned above.

Exclusive for the last days of the campaign

This Exclusive New Perk is called 'Cinderella - Beating the Clock' and you can acquire this photograph of Avah with a contribution of only 30 Euros!

Cinderella Beating the Clock

To find out more about the Indiegogo Campaign and contribution follow this link.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter

This is it, here we are.

Thank you for reading.

The Cinderella Story - Beating the Clock - More than 90% funded and with 12 Days to Go!

Hello Again,

A warm Thank You to All of our Contributors who have so generously given. We have a fantastic 3300 Euros of funding so far for Avah's commute and there are still 12 days left in the campaign! 

New Perk

To sweeten the deal and entice the sponsorship of enough people to reach our goal, we are offering a new Perk! 
This is new photograph of Avah that you have not seen before.

This Exclusive New Perk is called 'Cinderella - Beating the Clock' and you can acquire this photograph of Avah with a contribution of only 30 Euros!

Cinderella Beating the Clock

This unique photograph of Avah will be available only until the Avah the ballet commuter campaign ends in just under 2 weeks. It is a limited time offer.

If you have not contributed to Avah's campaign, this is another reason to support her. If you have contributed, this is another reason to be proud of your choice to support Avah and an opportunity to share your enthusiasm and raise the 3500 Euros needed before the clock strikes 12 midnight October 29th!

This is it, here we are.

Thanks for reading.

Support Team

Avah at the Back to Bach Rehearsal and Nearly 80% Funded!!

Hello Again,

This week has been frenzied, the wind rushed up from it's winter place to nip noses and tease of the coming winter. Then the autumn warmed after the hardest cold rain washed the summer from our eyes. We are waiting and counting the days until vacation and school is out. Now Avah has vacation, starting next week, but tonight she and her fellow students may watch the final dress rehearsal for Back to Bach presented by 
the Dutch National Ballet.

After leaving home for school this morning at 6:45 Avah will be home at nearly midnight. Hooray for vacation!

The campaign is going very well, we are getting a constant trickle of contributors every day. Avah the ballet commuter has been nearly 80% funded! 

This is all possible because of you.

Thank you!

Please share or support Avah the ballet commuter

This is it, here we are.

Thanks for reading. Thank you for your support.

Support Team

Avah was in the Newspaper Yesterday, Interviewed about the Crowd funding Project

The Amersfoortse Courant ran a story yesterday about Avah the ballet commuter!

AD Amersfoort October 7, 2014

Positive review of the Dutch National Ballet Academy "Dansers van Morgen" in the Dance Europe Magazine

Jessica Teague has written a glowing review of the final 2013-14 School performance in June of this year called Dansers van Morgen.
This excerpt is from the August/September edition of Dance Europe Magazine.

Post by Nationale Balletacademie- The Dutch National Ballet Academy.

Thanks for reading.

Support Team

An article in the Spits about action for Students who travel or are not eligible for a train card

An article from the Spits, October 1st, 2014

This article supports reduced train fare for students.

We are over 60% of our goal!

Thank you contributors!

We could not be happier with your generosity.

 In 11 short days of our 35 day campaign for Avah's commute, more than 2000 Euros have been raised.  And yet, we still have nearly 1300 Euros to go to reach our Goal of 3500 euros to cover this school year's travel.

Thanks for reading.

Support Team

Please share.

Over 50%! Avah the ballet commuter mentioned in the Setting the Barre Blog

A quick update, we have over 50% of our goal!

Thank you!

a cool Reaction from the internet:

A quote about Avah the ballet commuter from a professional ballet
dancer's blog called Setting The Barre. 
Setting the Barre Blog

When I received a plea on the STB Facebook page to assist a teenage girl in her path to professionalism with Dutch National Ballet, I felt so compelled.  Her commute to ballet school puts an extreme stress on the family (something any ballet student can relate to) and, like many social media-savvy folks in need, Avah is reaching out to the interwebs for support.  I have donated to her cause, and would like to share the link to her campaign video here, in case you may feel as inclined as I to help a young girl live her dream.

How cool is that? Kirsten is a dancer from Rhode Island in the US. Her blog is really worth reading if you are interested in an actual dancer's life. 

Another blog by dancers with strong writing is the blog from the San Diego Ballet. San Diego Ballet Blog

This is it, here we are.

Thanks for reading.

Why did you choose Indiegogo for your crowd funding platform in the first place?

Hello Again,

Crowd funding sites are a venue, like a stand at a convention center. The location and facility is in place, but we must draw the crowd into that location and provide enough to hold their attention, inform and inspire them. We have been very fortunate so far with the contributions, reactions and publicity we have received.

The core is and always has been Avah's dream and passion, and our desire to support her in realizing it.

Just like going door to door with a jar, crowd funding actively engages people in a passive way and asks if they are interested in donating for something. 
In our case, we have a visually pleasing, realistic campaign based on our actual need. 

So Why did we  choose Indiegogo?

There are many major players in the Crowd funding scene, two of the largest and possibly the best known are Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

Kickstarter

Kickstarter has a great reputation for makers of things. Products, Art projects, Comic Books, games and recording albums are the stuff of a Kickstarter campaign. Kickstarter has a decision panel that decide if your project fits into their criteria for what a Kickstarter campaign should be. This means that they can say no to your project, but also this is a filter for the quality of the projects. Financially they have an all or nothing structure meaning that to get the funds you must be funded 100% of your goal.

Indiegogo

For Avah the ballet commuter we have decided that Indiegogo was a better fit for what we wanted to do. Our campaign is not a product, but instead, opportunity based. 
We did not feel that we needed a review panel to decide the worthiness of our cause, we let the contributors decide this. Financially Indiegogo allows campaigns to receive the funding as fixed or flexible. Fixed is all or nothing like Kickstarter and flexible allows campaigns to keep the funds that are raised for a slightly higher fee.

The choice

When we discussed the things we wanted to do and make for the campaign, the time it would cost and the gamble that it could end up with nothing at the end were the determining factors. We had no experience with crowd funding and the cost of Avah's travel is 3500 Euros so we made a conservative decision to use Indiegogo. The support is good and they provided many tools to understand how to run a campaign.

People decide for themselves if it is compelling enough to give.

click here for the Indiegogo campaign


Thanks for reading!

Support Team

We are Beside ourselves, 40% of our Goal in one week!

We could not have hoped for such a result so soon in the campaign, but the numbers don't lie.
Just seven days ago we launched our Indiegogo campaign with looks of 'well here it goes' on our faces. 

Now the sweet cool October breeze wisps our hair as we wander around the neighborhood, gathering thoughts about what to say to you. 
Wondering, what should we write to tell the utter happiness that shines in our eyes when we talk about our Contributors and the feeling that someone believes in what we are doing.
The warmth and novel charm of being Liked. The sweet comment from someone stating the respect that they have for Avah's passion and dedication to dance. 

Thank you Contributors-Likers-sharers and G+ers.

We are at 40% of our goal in seven days!

Please keep sharing and liking. We have come so far because of your effort and generosity.

This is it, here we are.

Support Team

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter
http://www.facebook.com/avahtheballetcommuter
http://www.twitter.com/AvahBallet

Super Thrilled to be at 28% in only 5 days! Public Thank-fest for the GoGo Contributors

Hello Again,

We are happy to Announce that we have reached 28% of our goal! 
Now this is a reason to celebrate with dancing!

Join me in publicly thanking all of our wonderful Contributors who believe in what we are doing. Who see how much it means to us to have their support!

Thank you!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter

This is it, here we are.

Thanks for reading.

Support Team

The BIG TEN! Where are the dollars? We have reached 10% of our goal in only a few days!

Hello again,

We are beside ourselves. Thank you contributors!

Now we are asking ourselves, where are the non-european contributors, friends and art/dance loving individuals whom we really need to get this campaign into high gear?

Avah has a dream, that will not change. 
As good as she is and as far as she has come that is from her.
She needs to go to school by train, which costs money. 
You can do something for her. Contribute.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter

Share.
http://www.facebook.com/avahtheballetcommuter
http://www.twitter.com/AvahBallet

Join us in supporting a young person who can be what few can be, achieve a dream that few can reach.

Thank you for reading!

9% of our Target is Reached! Thank you Contributors! Fancy Coffee?

Hello Again,

We are so thankful and pleased with the support we have, a big thank you to all those who have shared. 

Please keep up the good work!

So before we try to awaken the philanthropist inside you, let's talk about fancy coffee. 

When we used to go on family trips we  would stop for coffee along the highway. This would cost from 2 to 4 euros each, and when we get something for the kids we have spent 10-15 euros, just on coffee.

Our lowest contribution level is 5 euros, so when you think about it, would you be willing to skip the fancy coffee one time to give to a hard working ballet student?

Please take 2 minutes to watch the video, listen to Avah tell you in her own words what her dream means to her.
Follow this link to our Indiegogo Campaign for Avah the ballet commuter.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter

some very fancy coffee!

Email time!
The next step in this journey is a hard launch by emailing institutions and our email addresses.

If you are reading this post and would like to receive an inspirational 'call to action' email from avah the ballet commuter, just email us here.
avah.theballetcommuter@gmail.com

Spread the word!
http://www.facebook.com/avahtheballetcommuter

http://www.twitter.com/AvahBallet

http://avahtheballetcommuter.blogspot.nl/

https://igg.me/at/avahtheballetcommuter

Thanks for reading.

Support Team

The clicking Game. Let's get 1000 likes on this! We really appreciate it!

Just click the like button, it doesn't matter how many times each person clicks.
Lets' get this up to 1000 clicks!
Facebook loves attention, so if you start liking Avah the ballet commuter, we can discover you and like your stuff back. We see so many cool and zany inspiring things all the time, let's inspire each other!
Play the clicking game!

Post by Avah the ballet commuter.

Look at our Indiegogo, 8% of Our Goal Has Been Reached Already. Thank you Contributors!

Hello Again,

It is a thrill to be telling you how good it feels to see the many positive reactions we are getting, I mean come on, we only launched Wednesday at 1 minute til midnight!!!

Still we have a ways to go... The next steps are going to be an email push, which means that some of you will be seeing a message directed at you...

If you would like to be on the mailing list, please click on this link.

Add me to your Mailing list, please.

Your email will open up with our address and you can send us an email.

We would love to hear from you. Comments and replies are welcome.

This is it, here we are.

Thanks for reading.

We have 2% already let's keep up the good work! Time to activate!

Avah was very excited yesterday, she came back from the ballet academy at 8 last night and told us that they practiced with the older ballet students.
They were practicing  a piece from La Bayadère with all of the students from the fifth year up to the HBO (College) level. Thirty two ballet ladies in total with Avah, and she is the youngest!

The thrill that she gets, that's what we are doing this for.

The Launch was a success we are gaining ground and looking for support. Please share our links and the videos!


Thanks for reading!

Support Team

Avah the ballet commuter crowd funding all links

Please like and share!   http://www.facebook.com/avahtheballetcommuter

For those who tweet!   http://www.twitter.com/AvahBallet

stay up to date here, anecdotes   http://avahtheballetcommuter.blogspot.nl/

The Crowd funding site  

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter       

share with these little icons below...

The Indiegogo Campaign for Avah the ballet commuter has begun and please pass this beautiful video around

The last 2 weeks  we have been in ghost mode. Disappeared off the face of the earth. Sharing, making, writing, thinking, anyway lots of action verbs.
The action has begun at Avah the ballet commuter, we have launched our Indiegogo Campaign and we are trying to think of every possible avenue to promote it!

http://igg.me/at/avahtheballetcommuter

That being said, if you are new to the blog, welcome! We had video of Avah pitching her campaign in English and Dutch, and today is the first full day of the campaign.

This is it, here we are.

Thank you for reading.

Ladies and Gentlemen we have Lift-off!!!

The Indiegogo Campaign has just been launched!

Avah the ballet commuter

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter

Please check it out and share!

This is it, here we are!

Thanks for reading!

Avah in the local press! Plus, The Campaign Launch is tomorrow

Thursday Launch!
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter

You will finally be able to see what we have been working so hard to finish!
Today it was cold and rainy, tomorrow we will be basking in the sunshine glow of pride for our brand spanking new Indiegogo Campaign!

Check it out, look around, tell us what you think. And please, please, please share with our friends and network!

Article over the ballet students who travel from Amersfoort to the National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam.
http://www.destadamersfoort.nl/lokaal/lokaal/petitie_van_start_voor_jonge_ballerinas_3226114.html#.VCMRdJR_vDU

This is the article with the interview I mentioned on September 18th. 
http://avahtheballetcommuter.blogspot.nl/2014/09/interview-with-mardoe-painter-in-local.html

It discusses the difficulty that some parents have sending their kids to the Ballet Academy due to the costs involved. 
The article also mentions the action by petition that was started to attempt to get transportation subsidized by the government for kids with talent (in music and dance) who need to travel for their specialized training. 
This action is still attempting to get the attention it deserves, for more information: www.ov4damu.nl

This is it, here we are.

Thank you for reading.

BTW, did you know that if you click on these tiny icons below you can share this blog? 

Sharing is caring!

Excited and Enthousiastic.....

Hello Again,

We have been getting into the social media and blog-o-shere for just a couple of weeks now. It feels good to tell others about what's been happening with the Indiegogo pre-launch. We've been working on the videos ....tomorrow the emails.

Trying to ask for likes and attention feels a little weird, but we don't know any other way to get the word out about our daughter Avah. 
The very high cost of her daily travel which is not subsidized by the Dutch government because such a program does not exist yet, is more than we can afford and we are looking for (financial) supporters and persons willing to spread the word.

Why support a 14 year old ballet student?

Well first of all, she joined the ballet academy when she was 10. Her ballet teacher said, 'why don't you try out for the ballet academy?'
So we inquired and found out that the auditions were already over. 
"Oh...now what? We missed our chance", we said to ourselves. They said she was allowed to come to a lesson of the children who had been in the orientation program (and now were ready for the first year). So Avah went and danced with the others, some had been in the orientation for 2 years already. They saw Avah, they said... Yes, she can start this school year. 

So that was when it all began....

Now Avah is still doing well with her classical dance and keeping up with her homework. She has 14-16 hours of dance per week plus her HAVO (high school) and we live far enough away from Amsterdam that she is travelling 100+km per day!

Please watch the videos and pass the links along to anyone who digs culture, has a passion for the arts, thinks about helping the little guy, or would like to do a little something for someone else that would mean very much to them. 

Let's face it, all kinds of good causes want your attention, this one is right here under your mouse click. 
There are some really cool Perks based on your contribution level...

Thursday 25 September the campaign will launch.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter

This is it, here we are.

Thanks for reading!

Two Days till Launch of Avah the ballet commuter on Indiegogo....

Hello again,

The crowd funding promo film is ready, there is a Dutch version and an English version.

English version

 Dutch version

We still need to get the introductory emails sent and invite your valuable attention to the Indiegogo Campaign. 
You now know someone with a crowd funding project. So we are trying our best to create the smoothest running little campaign that we can, but we really need you to get the word out.

Please check out the Indiegogo Campaign and video on Thursday 25th of September.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter

Like, contribute, subscribe and pass it on. We are thrilled and scared and waiting to see what Thursday will bring.

Thank You!

This is it, here we are.

Thanks for reading.

 

Building a Social Media web for Avah the ballet commuter

Hello Again,

It's mid September and I saw a spider, hard at work, building it's web. Carefully shifting from one silky strand of silver to the next, crossing them and binding them creating the familiar circular pattern. 
Later the finished project glistening in the long amber rays of a setting sun in a lavender end of summer sky.

The Support Team has also been hard at work.

New ways to stay in touch with us and share.

The Facebook page for Avah the ballet commuter.

The Twitter account for Avah the ballet commuter.










Thanks for reading.

Support Team

The Launch....Indiegogo campaign is planned for Thursday 25 September.

We are Launching soon... Avah the ballet commuter Indiegogo campaign is planned for Thursday 25 September.

www.indiegogo.com/projects/avah-the-ballet-commuter/

It won't be long. 

We would really appreciate your support, your likes, passing on to friends and anything that you can do to generate buzz. 

Spread the word.

This is it, here we are.

Thanks for reading.

Support Team

Interview with Mardoe Painter in a local Amersfoort newspaper

On a sunny Thursday morning, Mardoe Painter and a parent of another ballet academy student were interviewed by a local Amersfoort newspaper. From the windows of the restaurant where they sat, boats could be seen docked along the Eem river. The almost Indian Summer morning breeze carried sounds from the nearby train tracks setting the tone for the topic of conversation, kids with talent and an expensive train commute.

You see, the Dutch Government has many good programs with support for transportation related to education, Higher education. 

When you reach the age of sixteen or seventeen and you leave high school to pursue higher education in the form of college or university you are eligible to travel for free or a sizable student reduction. But for Avah and the many other talented kids who need specific qualified Artistic, Dance or Musical training in the best schools in the country; the need travel is common. And their parents need to pay for this.

Not everyone born with these gifts, and the dreams to pursue a career with them is born in a major city.

So the need to travel, attend school far from home and in some cases find a host family closer to the school to live with are common. 
The article link will be posted after it is published.

Please Support Avah the ballet commuter. 

www.indiegogo.com/campaigns/avah-the-ballet-commuter

This Indiegogo Campaign is specifically to pay for the more than 3500 euros it will cost this year for her transportation to attend her schooling and the National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam.
Please watch the videos and see what we are talking about. 
If you like what we are doing and you know someone else who would like to see this please share it with them.

This is it, here we are.

Thank you for reading.


Support Team

At the Gala for the 2014-15 Season...

A bustling Saturday morning. Avah was in Amsterdam today and paraded in the défilé with the other Ballet Academy Students and Dancers during the Gala opening the new ballet season. 
She left at 10 this morning for the final rehearsal, then walked the procession at the Gala and arrived home around 10 tonight. A long day for her, but an honor to walk and share the stage with the entire ballet company!

Thank you for reading.

Support Team

New Pictures for the Backgrounds

Hello Again,

We keep getting closer to the next goal, which is to construct a visually pleasing crowd sourcing project....Getting the backgrounds right has been a little work in and of itself. So we have to keep sizing them until the fit works.

Mardoe took such amazing photos, they lend so much to this blog! Now it's time to get back to the list of things that still need to happen. Our Launch goal won't wait.


This is it, here we are.

Thank you for reading.

Support Team

Getting there...

This is the 4th week since the idea to launch a crowd funding campaign was sparked. The team has viewed many CF sites and webpages of text to find out how to effectively communicate with invisible strangers a story that will win their trust. Trust to share this story with others.Trust to share with friends. Trust even enough, to share their support financially.

We hope we can inspire you to feel as excited as we do right now, seeing things take shape. Sharing the pride that we have of our Avah who dares to dream big dreams! 

This is it, here we are.

Thank you for reading.

Support Team