Alondra first learned about Brooklyn Ballet right before her family moved to Pennsylvania. “I contacted the school and made them send me brochures to Pennsylvania. That only fueled my desire to go.” She says she was drawn to Brooklyn Ballet because of their blend of ballet and street styles. Living in Pennsylvania she never gave up hope that one day she would be back in NYC dancing.

Finally, at age 15, that day came. Her mother decided it was time for the family to move back to the Bronx and Alondra was ecstatic.

Immediately when Alondra returned to New York she researched when Brooklyn Ballet would hold auditions for their summer program. Although her family still couldn’t afford to pay for dance classes, she auditioned anyway, confident she would find a way to make it work. Then she received an email from her high school with the subject line, “Fund Your Summer Program.” That’s when she first learned about Wishbone and the financial support they provide low-income students to attend their program of choice. “I looked into it and filled out the application the same day.”

When Alondra found out she was accepted to Wishbone she went running to her Mom screaming, “Wishbone! Wishbone! I got it!” Alondra had been accepted to Brooklyn Ballet and now, thanks to Wishbone, she could afford to attend. “For those of us who can’t afford programs like Brooklyn Ballet, now we have an opportunity. Then you’re equal and no one has more of an opportunity than another person. Now you have the option. It’s up to you whether or not you’re going to take it.”

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