Ballet School Fundraiser for Isle of Wight Young Carer
- Tilly Jones
- May 12, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 10, 2024
12th May
By Tilly Jones
Content Editor
Amélie Jones, a thirteen-year-old Young Carer and aspiring professional ballerina from the Isle of Wight, following a 3-day audition process, has been offered a place on the Professional Dancers Foundation course at the prestigious Kings International Ballet Academy in Leicestershire.
Amélie at Kings International Ballet Academy.
The school is non-Government funded, therefore funds of £20,000 are required to set Amélie off on her Ballet School adventure to cover tuition, accommodation, uniform, competitions, travel, and other necessities. Her awarded place is one of only 5 available full-time places within her year group. What an achievement!
In recent weeks, an appeal on Go Fund Me was organised with the aim of raising the money in time for the talented Amélie Jones to start full-time in September.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"LET YOUR DREAMS BE BIGGER THAN YOUR FEARS."
Amélie Jones - from Instagram
Joel Morris (left) and Amélie Jones (right), ©2019 DDMIX at Cowes Yacht Haven.
After thoroughly enjoying her audition at Kings, Amélie knows that is where she needs to be to develop the pursuit of her professional ballet dancer dream. This deserving superstar trains twelve and a half hours a week in her forte under the encouraging training of experienced Company dancer and Teacher, Joel Morris of Joel Morris Dance Academy in Shanklin, Isle of Wight.
“Amélie has read all of Darcey Bussell's books and was very pleased to have stood by her in the photo at DDMIX."
Sarah Jones
For all her life, Amélie has been a Young Carer for her dad and has known no different, being witness to sights that no child should have to see. Escapism is an extremely healthy coping mechanism and Amélie threw herself into her love of Ballet.
Her dad, Tom, suffered from a debilitating illness called Functional Neurological Disorder (also known as FND), which meant he was housebound for much of her childhood and would experience stroke-like episodes, seizures, permanent chronic fatigue and paralysis, to name a few; often spending time in hospital, no longer working as a result.
Three years ago, doctors discovered and diagnosed her dad with a heart condition called 'Wolf Parkinsons White' he’d had since birth. He underwent an operation to fix his heart, seemingly the heart issue was the cause of his FND.
Amélie’s dad’s poor health and his years of illness generated a lasting impact on the family. The family’s income greatly suffered and Sarah, Amélie’s mother, would have to significantly reduce her work hours to accommodate for caring duties.
Direct to Amelie’s Go Fund Me page HERE to offer your support and share her story.
A gene that features strongly in their family is Autism and her older sister requires care for this disability. Amélie has certain traits, such as selective mutism and the intimate nature of Kings would suit her so well; that she would flourish.
“At times, it's been horrendous for her. She has also never let it stop her from striving to be the best that she can be.....she is fiercely driven and extremely hard working and dedicated when it comes to her ballet.”
Sarah Jones
Kings can offer Amélie bespoke, individual, world-class training and money is the only hurdle in the way.
"Kings International Ballet Academy's Professional Dancers Foundation Course is open to exceptionally talented students...
...Kings International Ballet Academy will never hold a student back nor push too soon, to this end we do not work in year groups but levels - with students being able to change between levels as appropriate."
"We firmly believe that the mental and emotional well being of our students is of the utmost importance."
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