Pirouettes For Pearl

Natalia Armoza was determined that her daughter, who has CP, would take part in the arts

- Hilary Ribons

WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD, I took my first ballet class. I wanted to know what it was like to float across the stage like the dancers I’d seen on TV and in plays. I took maybe two classes before I moved on to the next thing, but it didn’t matter. Mom encouraged me to explore new hobbies and activities. She made sure that my childhood was full of wonder, exploration and make-believe. There were no limits on the dreams I could have.

Every child should feel like they can take on the world. But it takes an exceptional parent, like Mom, to go out of their way to protect their child’s sense of wonder and whimsy. That’s exactly what Natalia Armoza did for her daughter, Pearl, when she sat in front of her computer one day writing an e-mail to the New York City Ballet, or NYCB.