A YOUNG carer is one step closer to catching her dream after securing a place at a top ballet school.
Yvie-Mai Talbot has beaten off the competition to gain a scholarship and a place at Moorland International Ballet School in Lancashire.
It was second-time lucky for the Meriden resident who starting applying to attend dance school just before the first lockdown hit.
That time round she was knocked back by all the schools she’s applied to.
When lockdown hit last March the 12-year-old was not deterred.
As lessons went online the lounge became her ballet studio with the laptop on top of storage boxes and the furniture moved so she had space to train.
The West Coventry Academy pupil worked with Sophie-Jane Harrison, one of her dance teachers, to create a video for each of the six school she applied to for year eight entry in September 2021.
After an agonising wait Yvie-Mai was offered in person auditions at all six of her dance schools including the Royal Ballet School in London.
She was offered a scholarship award from Moorland International School which will allow Yvie-Mai to attend the school from September however the family need to fund the additional fees and other expenditure.
Mum, Kelly, said: “This means the absolute world to Yvie-Mai, this is what she has been dreaming about for so many years and now finally she has achieved it.
“She says it means she can do what she loves doing everyday and benefit from the fantastic training and be given more opportunities to dance.
“As her parents we are over the moon, she has worked so, so hard especially through this tough lockdown. It hasn’t been easy for any of us especially with having two of our sons with additional needs.
“We know that this will be a fantastic opportunity for Yvie-Mai to do and we are so grateful to have been blessed with this chance.
During the lockdowns she had to balance school work with ballet training and caring for her brother Zaak, who has global development delay, sensory issues, dyslexia, bladder condition and urology complications and her 11-year-old brother Noah who has ADHD and autism.
Kelly said: “She is always there to help her brothers – she makes lunches for them if I am busy, entertains them where possible, tries to calm and diffuse situations if they are getting angry, she also helps them with school work.
“Yvie-Mai has had support in the past through young carers but since the pandemic hit there has been limited resources for her to use and go to.
“She has been able to join in with virtual activities but that isn’t really the same as going away from home to a venue to actually get away from home and her siblings.
“She never moans, is always happy to help often without being asked to.”
For more or to donate visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/yviemais-ballet-dream
