Brighton dancer completes first year at Royal Ballet School

Twelve-year-old Emma Pettigrew from Brighton earned a place at The Royal Ballet School’s White Lodge last year, following training at Brighton Ballet School.

Her mother, Sonya Pettigrew, principal of Brighton Ballet School, said: "When people donated last year, they weren’t simply helping us buy ballet shoes.

"They helped make this whole extraordinary year possible."

Emma’s first year included performing as a Gingerbread character in The Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House, where she appeared in 17 shows over the festive season.

She also performed at Opera Holland Park, the Next Generation Festival at the Linbury Theatre and The Royal Ballet School’s end-of-year performance at the Royal Opera House.

To mark her achievements and help support her second year, Brighton Ballet School is hosting a Community Open Day on Saturday, September 12, at its BHASVIC studio on Dyke Road.

More details and booking information are available at brightonballetschool.co.uk/bbs-community-open-day.

The event will feature free ballet and dance classes for all ages, along with a cake sale, refreshments and handmade dance accessories.

All donations will go towards Emma’s ongoing training costs.

Emma’s fundraising page can be found at gofund.me/b595d25a7.

Additional expenses for Emma’s training include uniforms, shoes, travel and summer intensives - costs that quickly add up.

During her first year alone, she went through 50 pairs of ballet tights, three pairs of pointe shoes and around 1,000 hairpins.

Ms Pettigrew said: "I think people sometimes imagine that once a child has earned a place at a school like White Lodge, that’s the expensive part dealt with.

"There are actually considerable additional costs involved in supporting their training.

"Our family’s financial circumstances have also changed significantly since Emma first started at White Lodge, making those costs even harder for us to meet."

The open day is also intended to welcome newcomers to dance.

Ms Pettigrew said: "I’d particularly love people who have always thought ballet wasn’t for them to come through the doors.

"You don’t need ballet shoes, you don’t need experience, and you certainly don’t need to look like a ballet dancer."