That's from Clement Crisp, the dean of English dance critics, in Ballet Review, Fall 2006. But one doesn't need Crisp's sixty years of experience (he even saw the legendary Margot Fonteyn in the role) to be delighted, astonished, and moved by Alina's dancing.

     A principal at The Royal Ballet, and a Gaynor Minden wearer since 2002, Alina was born in Bucharest, Romania. She studied gymnastics starting at age seven, then modern and popular dance. When she was nine she was accepted at the Kiev (Ukraine) State Ballet School, but at age ten she watched a performance of Giselle that grabbed her heart—she knew for sure she had to become a ballerina. Alina trained in Kiev until 1998 when at age 16 she attended The Royal Ballet School on a Prix de Lausanne scholarship. She danced with the Kiev Ballet for a year and then joined The Royal Ballet in 1999. Just two years later she was promoted to principal dancer. Read more.

     In New York, Dance Teacher Liaison Karen Lacy and Managing Director Joanna Harp attended the "How to Love Your Pointe Shoes and Respect Your Feet" workshop presented by The School at Steps and Pointe magazine. Students, parents, and teachers participated in discussions with master teachers, a podiatrist, and professional dancers. Afterwards, all were invited to the Pointe Shoe Fair with representatives from leading shoe manufacturers. All in all, a very busy October for the sales team!

     After winning the 2004 regional Youth America Grand Prix title in California, Aria vied for the New York title in April and was named a finalist in the senior division. A few months later, she returned to the city to attend ABT's Summer Intensive and study with its world-renowned teachers in the studios that would soon be her home.

     As you can imagine, when Alina switched to Gaynor Mindens we were eager to put her in our ads. I called and wrote and called some more but Alina didn't get back to me so I figured she wasn't interested. Then one day the phone rang and there she was telling me that she'd like to do it. "Hooray!" I said to myself. "There's just one thing," Alina said. I gritted my teeth, fearing that she would ask for some outrageous compensation. "I have just been back to Bucharest and it's very hard for the dancers there, they are poor and can't get good shoes. So I was wondering if instead of paying me my fee you could instead send them Gaynor Mindens."

     Thanks to Alina's compassion and kindness, the dancers of The Romanian National Ballet no longer have to worry about their pointe shoes.

Cordially,
Eliza