10 Dorset parents pass ballet exams to help fund Disneyland trip

Parents of students at a Dorset dance school took on ballet lessons to help fundraise for dancers to perform at Disneyland.

Students at a Dorset dance school have been invited to perform in front of an international audience in Disneyland Paris. To help fund this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, their parents have undertaken six weeks of intense ballet training. On Sunday 12 January, the 10 parents passed their Grade 1 exam.

Back in July 2024, students from Footlight Performance Academy auditioned to dance at Disneyland. A few months later, the dancers received the exciting news that the panel of judges at Disney loved their routines and have offered them a place to perform.

Footlight Principal Leanne Dade said: “We now need to raise as much money as possible as it’s going to cost £23,800 to take the dancers there.”

To help with this a select few parents, including mums, dads and a grandparent, stepped out of their comfort zones and agreed to a role reversal. They undertook six weeks of intense ballet training with the help of the teachers at Footlight and tuition from their children at home, all leading up to taking the ballet exam last Sunday.

“The event was absolutely amazing. We raised an amazing £1,000 in the end,” said Dade.

To donate to this sponsored ballet challenge, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fpa-disney

Footlight Performance Academy offers classes across Wimborne and Poole. In September last year, Dade won the award for the ‘Most Inspiring Principal’ at the national Dance Business Labs Awards.

To find out more about the academy, visit www.footlight-dance.co.uk.