Emma's chance to dance at The Royal Ballet School

Hi!

My name is Emma and I have always had big dreams! Since I was 5 years old I've dreamed of going to The Royal Ballet School’s prestigious school, White Lodge, in Richmond Park to train full time as a ballerina!

It all started when my mum read me book about a little girl who went to White Lodge, and ever since that I set myself a goal to go to the school and make my dream a reality!

TRAINING

It's not that easy to become a ballet dancer actually. I train about 15 - 20 hours outside of school, and have always had to give up things like playdates and birthday parties as it takes a lot of my time, and it costs quite a lot as there are lots of things to pay for like extra courses, and ballet tights.

It's been hard on my siblings and mum and dad too. Training doesn't stop at the weekend, I am usually dancing both Saturday and Sundays so our family is always going in different directions and we hardly ever get a day off!

AUDITIONS

I started auditioning for full time vocational schools in October 2024. It was a long process, especially for the Royal Ballet School! There were 3 rounds of auditions for only 14 spaces. 1300 other children applied so I know I am very lucky to have got a space at all.

FUNDING

The government do give a scholarship fund for children to go to train full time at things like ballet schools, but this only covers a bit of the fees. My mum and dad will need to pay the rest, and it does not include things like my ballet shoes, pointe shoes, tights, and leotards. My pointe shoes cost £100 a pair and I go through then pretty quickly!

Mum says we also have been caught by surprise by the government's decision to tax private schools (even those at vocational training centres) an extra 20% on top of the fees, which is why mum and dad are fundraising! Mum thinks it will be about £8,000 to £10,000 in extra costs which they are worried about finding in time for September!

We rely on dad's work to pay for everything. Mum runs a dance school (which is handy as she can teach me herself), but it does not bring her in a living wage, especially as she is full time carer for my big brother who is disabled.

I know that this is a once in the life time opportunity and so few children are even offered a chance to train at such an amazing school. I set this goal when I was 5 years old and worked so hard to get this offer. I was over the moon to be offered a space, so not to be able to go now would be heartbreaking for me.

Mum and Dad say :

Emma came out dancing and has not stopped moving since! She is such a kind, considerate lovely person, always caring for everyone around her. She works so hard at her dancing, and loves every minute of it. It's truly her happy place and all she wants is to share that with the world around her.

Money raised through this fundraiser will go directly to The Royal Ballet School to pay Emma's school fees. We will be short of our parental contribution and will not be able to send her without raising extra funds to be able to do this.

Without your help Emma's dream of training to be a ballet dancer might not become a reality. We know there are so many amazing causes out there, and everyone is experiencing tough times at present, but we feel we have to do everything we can to help our daughter take full advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Follow Emma on social media to find out more : @emmasarabesques