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The Legacy League

Born to Move.
Built to Lead.


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At Francisco Gella Dance Works, we believe inspired and holistic training shapes not only artists, but principled leaders in our field and our communities. Guided by highly educated and experienced teaching artists, our mission is to mentor dancers of all backgrounds with the courage, discipline, and vision to thrive.

As we celebrate more than a decade of impact at FGDW, we are excited to launch year two of The Legacy League, our brand ambassador team. More than representatives for our organization, these dancers are future leaders—selected for their artistry, integrity, commitment and alignment with our values.

Through mentorship and unique opportunities, The Legacy League ensures that our story continues to grow, shaping the future of dance with purpose and passion.

Eligibility

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  • Ages 8–18 (Age determined as of 1/1/2027). Junior Ambassadors: ages 8-12. Preprofessional Ambassadors: Ages 13-18.
  • Intermediate to advanced level for your age group.
  • Actively enrolled in a studio or school.
  • Training at least 10 hours per week.
  • A strong dancer and a positive role model who embodies our values as a well-rounded individual.
  • Have taken class with Francisco Gella.
  • Must commit to a term of service from 1/1/2027 - 12/31/2027.
  • Active social media presence (Instagram account must be public).
  • Special priority will be given to dancers who have attended at least one of the FGDW intensives within the last year.

Apply Now

Applying for The Legacy League is free. All applications must be submitted by October 19, 2026. This is a selective program. Those chosen will be announced by November 15, 2026.

Here’s how to apply.

1

Post to your instagram story announcing you are applying for The 2027 Francisco Gella Dance Works Legacy League. You should use a photo of you dancing. Include a photo from a Francisco Gella Dance Works event or with Francisco Gella himself if you have one. You are required to tag @FranciscoGellaDance, @DancingWithFrancisco, and three friends. Include the application link on your story - being clear that this is where they can also apply.

2

Complete the online application which includes a statement that you’ve received permission from your studio or school director.

If selected, the annual membership fee will be $625. Scholarships are available for those who demonstrate high financial need.

APPLY NOW

TLL Ambassador Benefits and Responsibilities

Benefits

  • Exclusive Training Intensive: The Immersive — A weekend of personalized mentorship with Francisco and special guests. This immersive will be offered at a lower cost than our other intensives. (Attendance is optional).
  • Ambassador Member-Only Forums — Up to four virtual sessions throughout the year with Francisco’s team and guest mentors.
  • Recommendation Letters & References — Support for your future intensives, scholarships, and applications.
  • Exclusive Merch — Official Legacy League apparel to represent your role. This is covered by your membership fee and provided to you at no extra cost.
  • Enjoy a 15% Legacy League Scholarship to FGDW intensives including Ballet+ Miami, Ballet+ Hawaii, Ballet+ Vancouver, Seattle Dance Advance, New Year’s Training Camp, and New Century Dance Project. Additionally those attending our selective programs - Mini Mania, Junior Jam, and the Preprofessional Dancer Institute - will also receive the 15% TLL scholarship.
  • Priority Admission — Automatic admission (no audition required) to our selective programs: Mini Mania (ages 8-10), Junior Jam (ages 11-13), and the Preprofessional Dancer Institute (ages 14-18).
  • Parent Incentives — Up to two virtual forums and special offers on educational consultations and college prep workshops with Julie Friedrich, Director of College & Career Programs.
  • Various Forms of Social Media Engagement — This includes birthday posts, collaborations, and more.
  • Zeitgeist Dance Theatre Trainee Interviews — Legacy League Prepro Ambassadors 17 or older will advance straight to the interview round, without submitting audition materials or fee.
  • Early guaranteed enrollment on FGDW intensives before they go on-sale to the general public.

Responsibilities

  • Tagging FGDW in stories and posts that are dance related.
  • Resharing content we tag you in including birthday posts, individual stories for events, etc.
  • Collabing on posts when requested and the ability to tag with @dancingwithfrancisco.
  • Resharing of special announcement and event posts.
  • Assignments at FGDW events.
  • Wearing Legacy League merch at dance conventions, intensives, and in the studio.
  • Spreading the values of FGDW in the community.
  • Exercising professionalism in all aspects of your dance life.

Selection Criteria

Legacy League members are not selected just because of their talent and potential, but because of who they are as human beings and how they embody our organization’s characteristics and values. Although we look for these qualities in applicants, we also expect that Ambassadors will seek to further develop these qualities during their one-year tenure and beyond.

These include:

  • Excellence — Upholding the highest standards of technical, artistic, and educational practice.

  • Integrity — Encouraging honesty, professionalism, and accountability in all aspects of training and collaboration.

  • Mentorship — Guiding dancers with compassion, wisdom, and individualized support.
  • Community — Fostering an environment where diverse dancers feel seen, valued, and connected.

  • Equity & Access — Creating opportunities for dancers from all backgrounds to grow and thrive.

  • Artistry — Inspiring dancers to explore their creative potential and develop authentic, expressive voices.
  • Resilience — Cultivating the discipline, grit, and adaptability needed for long-term success in dance and life.

  • Leadership — Encouraging dancers to take initiative, develop strong personal responsibility, and lead with confidence within their communities and the broader field.

More Than An Ambassador Program

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Many mentorship/ambassador programs can feel one sided - primarily serving the needs of the organization they are representing. The Legacy League allows for students and parents to join a community of like minded artists and humans. By keeping it small, our goal is to build a strong network of support and learning that allows these dancers to thrive, and for parents to connect with other parents. 

The Legacy League is a genuine and nurturing atmosphere, where those selected can dive deeper into their craft, strive for excellence, and be inspired to lead others on a similar path where growth is paramount.

2026 Ambassador Testimonials

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Being a part of The Legacy League has been such an incredible experience for Lily and our family. The connections she has made with fellow ambassadors, along with the mentorship, guidance, and resources available to dancers as they navigate their journey, are truly invaluable.

Francisco has been an inspiration to Lily since her very first year attending convention. His wisdom, encouragement, and genuine investment in the next generation of dancers are something incredibly special. She always leaves his classes feeling inspired, motivated, and excited to keep growing, not only as a dancer, but as a person. We couldn’t be more grateful to be part of The Legacy League and for the positive impact Francisco and this community continue to have on Lily’s journey.


- Lily Knopps, Arizona
Junior Ambassador

Being a Legacy League member has brought me so much personal growth. The mentorship and guidance of Francisco Gella and his team has inspired me to take on more challenges, and taught me how to confidently express my inner self through technique and artistry in dancing. I also connected with a lot of exceptional dancers through Legacy League and I’m so proud to be a part of this special family.


- Leila Frey, Florida
Preprofessional Ambassador

Being part of The Legacy League has been incredibly valuable to our family, but one of the greatest gifts has truly been having access to Miss Julie and her wisdom and guidance. This year especially, we found ourselves making some big decisions about dance training and what direction made the most sense for each of us moving forward. Miss Julie was someone we could turn to and have an honest conversation with about everything, whether it was placing a greater emphasis on ballet, choosing the right training environment, considering an independent path versus a traditional studio, or figuring out how to balance our individual goals with continuing to compete. Her perspective helped us look at the bigger picture and make decisions with so much more clarity and confidence. That kind of access, mentorship, and trusted guidance is invaluable. The Legacy League has given us resources and relationships that go far beyond dance opportunities, and we are incredibly grateful for the support it has provided our family.


- Peyton & Ryan Root, California
Junior Ambassadors

Legacy League

Application

Questions? Email thelegacyleague@franciscogelladance.com

Legacy League Application Form

I am applying for(Required)
Category should be chosen based on age as of January 1, 2027.

Candidate Information

By submitting this application, I confirm that I am eligible based on the following requirements:

  • Ages 8–18 (Age determined as 1/1/27)
  • Intermediate to advanced level for your age group
  • Actively enrolled in a studio or school
  • Training at least 10 hours per week
  • A strong dancer and a positive role model who embodies our values as a well-rounded individual
  • Have taken class with Francisco Gella
  • Must commit to a term of service from 1/1/2027 - 12/31/2027
  • Active social media presence (Instagram account must be public)

*Note: Special priority will be given in the selection process to dancers who have attended at least one of the FGDW intensives within the last year.

Candidate Name(Required)
If the candidate does not have an email, enter the parent/guardian email.
Indicate Email Owner(Required)
If the candidate does not have a phone, enter the parent/guardian phone.
Indicate Mobile Phone Owner(Required)
If this number belongs to the attendee, please enter the parent/guardian phone at the end of this form
Please enter a number from 8 to 18.
Please enter your answer as a numeral (4, 5, 6, etc.)
Candidate's Gender(Required)
City & State of Primary Dance Conservatory, Studio, or School(Required)
Parent/Guardian Name(Required)
Please upload a recent professional headshot in color (must be at least 300 dpi and less than 5MB).
Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, Max. file size: 5 MB.
Class Confirmation(Required)
List any and all Francisco Gella intensives in which you have participated.
Please explain and give at least one example of how you demonstrate this trait in your everyday life.
Social Media Post Confirmation(Required)
Note requirement: Make a post on your instagram story announcing you are applying for The 2027 Francisco Gella Dance Works Legacy League. You should use a photo of you dancing and include Francisco in the photo if you have one with him. You are required to tag three friends and include the application link on this post to your story - being clear that this is where they can also apply.
Studio/School Director Permission(Required)