By CASEY NEILL
CLAUDIA Jenkinson has been dancing she was three years old.
The Keysborough 14-year-old’s dedication paid off in spades when she was invited to audition for New York’s prestigious Joffrey Ballet School last year.
She was accepted into the four-year full-time contemporary/jazz trainee program ahead of hundreds of other applicants.
“I was ecstatic. I cried, I was so happy because I wasn’t expecting it,” she said.
“It came as such a surprise, I was just overwhelmed.”
“Now that it’s really happening I’m feeling really excited to go over there.
“I can’t believe that this opportunity is happening for me.”
Claudia flew to the US last week to settle in at her new school.
“They’ve had some amazing dancers train there,” she said.
“It’s New York and it’s the city of dreams. It’s just an amazing opportunity. It’s the best of the best.
“Getting an education’s really important to me also because I like school so I’ll be doing online schooling.
“I love English studies so I’d love to do something like that and I also love teaching so maybe teaching dance.”
But her main goals for now revolve around her love of dance and choreography.
“I’d love to be on Broadway or be a back-up dancer or something,” she said.
“I’m going to Joffrey to improve and to train to be the best that I can be.
“I love being able to express myself when I’m dancing and I love making an audience feel happy.”
Claudia said it would be difficult to spend four years away from her family.
“But I don’t want to look back and regret not taking this opportunity,” she said.
It will be an expensive exercise, though, so she’s created an online fund-raising page to appeal for sponsors or donations.
“My family have committed to supporting me financially, with the understanding that I will receive a part scholarship for my dance tuition,” she said.
“Even with this part scholarship I know the financial strain on my family will be immense.
“I will be unable to work on the weekends due to US student visa restrictions.”
Visit http://www.gofundme.com/h940yk to donate.
