Imagine…
Complete with ‘lockdown’ photo, eighteen-year-old Zac, has been in touch to share his story and thank the RGF.
Zac told us: “I am currently in my first year of dance training at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance with the hopes of one day becoming a professional artist. My journey started with and outreach programme in Blackpool, taught by members of the Royal Ballet. I was then selected to join the Royal Ballet JA Program and spent three years practicing and building on the fundamentals of ballet technique. These opportunities helped me build a solid technical base in ballet aiding my progression and my ability in other forms of dance as most dance styles are stimulated by classical ballet technique. I then moved my training to the Centre of Advanced Training in Manchester, spending eight years training and exploring different styles, techniques, and ways of creating movement. This opened up a whole world of opportunities, I worked with the National Youth Ballet in Swan Lake and Giselle and making it to a finalist in UDANCE with ‘The Chorley Boys’. I was selected to be part of Akram Khan’s ‘Big Dance’ in Trafalgar Square. This led on to working with Akram again creating a dance film with his company. Most recently I was in Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, performing his new take on Romeo and Juliet in Bradford at the Alhambra Theatre, and shortly afterwards I was selected to be part of the National Youth Dance Company, working with Russell Maliphant for a UK tour. Sadly, this did not take place due to the pandemic, however we were thrilled to be able to perform at Saddlers Wells in the Autumn of 2020.
My training at Rambert requires specialised dance and fitness equipment. I am immensely thankful to the RGF for helping me with a grant that now means I can invest in these much-needed items. Thank you to the trustees for supporting my journey and for the encouragement they have given, it is immensely helpful to have the support of people who believe in your dreams with you. Thank you RGF!”