[imagesource:befunky]

A 12-year-old ballet dancer from Kommetjie has been awarded a 45% scholarship to a prestigious ballet summer school in New York, but he now requires a little help from South Africans to get there.

Thomas la Grange has a shot at a dream opportunity after a two-hour online audition on Saturday. If the family can raise the funds, the young star will attend a five-week programme at the American Academy of Ballet Summer School at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, from June 30 to August 3 next year.

His single mother, Collette la Grange, has now launched a BackaBuddy campaign to raise R150 000 for the remaining fees and flight costs.

Thomas has been interested in ballet since he was five years old, and at the age of nine, he enrolled at the Natalie Lissack School of Dance.

“He never misses a class and is a real go-getter. When he really wants something, he will put his mind to it,” Ms Lissack added. “Thomas just takes your breath away.”

According to his mother, Thomas landed a position in Peter Pan & Tinkerbell at the Artscape in 2021, and the performing bug bit him from there. He auditioned for Veronica Paeper’s Romeo and Juliet in 2022, and after earning the role of one of the urchins, he danced with worldwide stars such as Vadim Muntagirov and Fumi Kaneko.

He took on the part of Fritz in Veronica Paeper’s The Nutcracker before the end of 2022 and then auditioned for the Cape Junior Ballet, where he has been dancing for the past 11 months.

Ms. La Grange was proud of her son’s determination and individuality.

“In my opinion, it is our responsibility to support our children’s dreams to the best of our ability. How will they know what they are truly capable of if they do not have the support of their family? It’s been tough, but every time he performs on stage and I see him shining, it inspires me even more. I want to give him this dream.”

“I can’t wait to improve my dancing and meet other dancers from around the world,“ he said, adding that he dreamed one day dancing the role of the prince in Swan Lake.

For those who want to try ballet but worry about bullying, Thomas has a simple message: “Push through, and it will change your life.”

Here’s hoping South Africa can help Thomas follow his dreams.

[source:echo]