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While “most people want to fit in with society” 12-year-old Thomas La Grange has followed his heart and pursued ballet from an early age, even if that meant being the target of bullies.
And now the teen from Kommetjie has his dreams set on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase his talents on an international stage, at the AAB Summer School for ballet in New York in the United States of America (USA).
His mother Collette says, “in true Thomas style”, he auditioned to join the school for ballet on Saturday 11 November and walked away with a 45% bursary.
“It is very inspiring to me because in society everyone just wants to fit in, and he is showing that he is following his dreams and doing what he loves.”
At the age of five, the teen asked his mom to join a ballet class but not taking him seriously she dismissed his request as a phase.
“I don’t know what inspired him to learn ballet but the year before Grade R he came home and said he wanted to do ballet.
“I am a mom of three boys and thought it was a different request. He asked me for five years and after the fifth year, I sat back and thought that this was not just a phase and something he really wanted to do.
“So, we bought him his first ballet shoes and he started in 2020.”
It was not plain sailing for the teen who was allegedly bullied for doing ballet but he has pushed through and persevered despite the challenges.
“He has been bullied at school and it became really bad this year and he was reluctant to carry on with ballet.”
To participate in the AAB Summer School of Ballet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a young dancer and the single mom, her wish is to make his dreams a reality.
“This is an incredible opportunity for my young dancer, but the fees and flights are currently standing in our way of making this dream come true.”
The five-week programme will consist of 35 to 40 hours of dancing and training a week.
The teen, who has been dancing with the junior City of Cape Town Ballet for the past 11 months, will join other dancers who auditioned from Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, the USA, Canada, Mexico and South Africa.
“We are putting a raffle together and have some incredible prizes so far to raise enough money for him to get to New York.
“His little face lights up when he talks about ballet.”
In 2021, the talented teen got a part in Peter Pan & Tinkerbell at the Artscape, dancing as the sweet Michael.
Last year, he auditioned for “Romeo and Juliet” by Veronica Paeper, where he got the role of one of the Urchins and had the opportunity to dance with international dancers such as Vadim Muntagirov and Fumi Kaneko.
Late last year, Thomas received the role of Fritz in Veronica Paepers’ “The Nutcracker”.
For more info visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/collette-la-grange-5755872034691474358
