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Ballet for a Boy

  • Happy Easter and thank you everyone

      8 April 2015
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    Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!!

    Wow, I can't believe how quickly this term has gone. It is now the Easter holidays and end of term one and I have a bit of time to work on my own dances again. This term I have had my one-on-one classes with the Trimmers, 7 classes a week at Hayley Johnson Academy of Dancing, I also assist Hayley with a grade one and a grade two ballet class (so much fun) and then I have my own practice sessions at the studio at the gym. So busy but I love every minute of it.

    My dancing is improving heaps and I have had so many new ideas for new dances since my amazing time at the Boys Ballet Summer School in Sydney. All the teachers were great and I learnt so much. And it was so good to hang out with heaps of other boys who dance. After our dance classes we got to do heaps of swimming, hang out in the recreation room, we went to Wet'n'Wild, Luna Park and got to see the amazing fireworks display on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Years!!!!!!!!

    Without your support, none of this would have happened for me. Thanks everyone!!!!!!!

    I am now saving up to go back to the Summer School again at the end of this year and I am egar to learn so much more. I really feel that my experience has really helped with my dancing and having all male teachers helped me with the way I carry myself when I dance.

    This page will be closing in a week or two so I intend to start a new one to help me get to Summer School, so you can keep an eye on what I am doing.

    I am back off up to the gym in the afternoon, I am working on all my dances as I have two competitions coming up in May. It's quite exciting as I will be dancing two new dances for the first time. One is very funny and I think it will surprise the audience. Wish me luck :-) Salem xx

    P.S. I have added some photos from Summer School to my Gallery :-)

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  • Happy New Year / Summer School

      14 January 2015
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    Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!!

    Thank you for helping me to have such a fantastic experience.

    I had an amazing New Years, the Boys Ballet Summer School was held at the Shore School which had a great view of the Harbour Bridge.

    We all stayed up to watch the fireworks and the next day we went to Wet'n'Wild.

    I had such a great time, wish it was for longer. I am now saving and will continue fundraising to go back next summer. I am advertising locally to get an all boys ballet class up and running, I have booked the hall and everything, hopefully this will help me with my fundraising plus I really enjoy teaching.

    When I came back home, I only had a couple of days off dancing and have got back into the studio to practice. I started back with lessons with Jacqui yesterday.

    Today I finished my new contemporary choreography. I'm very pleased with it. Now it needs lots of practice to make it look good.

    I was so inspired from being at the Boys Ballet Summer School and had fantastic tutors - Jason Duff for jazz, Bill Pengelly for contemporary, and Christian Tatchev from the Queensland Ballet.

    Bill gave me a load of new ideas and inspired me to create a new dance using lots of new moves that he taught us. Thanks Bill. And thanks to Jason and Christian too.

    I will tell you more about my time at Summer School real soon - Salem xx

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  • My adventure begins

      29 December 2014
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    Hi everyone. The time is finally here, I am off to Sydney. I am so excited. My friend Julien and his mum were at the airport as well, he is also going to the Boys Ballet Summer School.

    So I waved goodbye to my mum and went off to the departure lounge.

    I will let you know how it all goes. Thank you for all your support and Happy New Years!!!!!! Salem xx

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  • Video of me practicing and one of my variations

      26 December 2014

    Hi again, thought you might like to have a look at my video of me practicing at the studio at the gym. And also my variation Siegfried from Swan Lake which I performed at the Globe in Palmerston North earlier this year.

    Merry Christmas and have a very happy New Years!!!!!!

    Salem xxx

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  • Photos from ANNIE

      26 December 2014
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    Please check out my photo gallery as I have added some photos from ANNIE :-)

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  • Merry Christmas Everyone

      26 December 2014
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    I hope you all have had a lovey day with friends and family. I have had a great Christmas and a fantastic lead up to the holidays. Our end of year production of ANNIE was an absolutely amazing experience!!!!!! All the dancers and teachers made it a most memorable experience and the audience loved it too. It really was a family feel to the whole show. Thank you to all of Hayley Johnson's Academy of Dancing!!!!!!

    I am all excited as I am of the the Boy's Ballet Summer School in Sydney this Sunday!!!!!!!!! I am looking forward to meeting all the other boys who love to dance, just like me. And to have a week of dancing and lots of fun.

    Thank you for all of your support and donations which have helped me to get to Sydney. This has meant so much to me, that you were willing to help me to follow my dreams. I'll give you a full report on how it all went.

    Merry Christmas and have a fantastic New Year (I'll be in Sydney for that, yay!!!!)

    Love

    Salem

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  • A very exciting time.

      10 December 2014
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    It is all go at the moment, it's all go with rehearsing for "Annie" with Hayley Johnson's Academy of Dancing.

    I'm loving being Daddy Warbucks. Our first show is this coming Saturday at 6.30 pm. We are doing four shows in total. So looking forward to it.

    In November I won a Pride Youth Award with the ceremony in Wellington. That was so exciting. And then last week I won a Kapiti Coast District Council "Shout Out" Youth Award for Expression.

    I didn't get to see many of the other award recipients as I had to dash off to the awards straight after getting off the plane from Auckland where I had been to the Attitude Awards ceremony the night before. I was one of the finalists and had a wonderful and very inspirational night at the awards. I wasn't a winner there but the person who won in my category, Artistic Achievement, Paul Barrett, definitely deserved that award. Congratulations Paul.

    I would like to say a very big THANK YOU to everyone who has made a donation to help me get over to The Boys Ballet Summer School.

    Your support has meant so much to me and my mum and we really are very humbled by your generousity.

    I can't believe I am off in a few weeks, my first time overseas and I am so excited. I have my ticket and passport so now I have to start packing my suitcase.

    This is such a great way to finish off a fantastic year which has been so exciting, and is a great start to the next.

    Thanks again and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Years.

    Salem xxxx

    P.S Please have a look at the photos in my gallery, I will put up some more too when I get back from Summer School.

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  • A fanastic way to end the year

      28 November 2014
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    Hi everyone, the Attitude Awards are next week and I will flying up to Auckland for them on Wednesday. It's so exciting. It will be my first ""black tie"" event. This article about the awards was on stuff. I'm in it http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/63475511/attitude-awards-finalists-recognising-extraordinary-talent.html More good news, after the Attitude Awards, we fly back home the next evening and then we have to rush from the airport for my next event in Kapiti, I will be receiving a Kapiti Coast Shout Out Youth Award. These awards recognise the diverse leadership and innovation shown by young people on the Kapiti Coast. And I will be receiving the Expression Award which recognises young people who shown a high level of passion and service to arts, music or culture in their local community and/or nationally. Thank you to the Kapiti Coast Youth Council for your support this year. What a way to end the year especially since it gets topped off with me flying over to Sydney for the Boy's Ballet Summer School. Thank you for all your help and support. I have my tickets and I am waiting on my passport which should arrive next week. So so exciting :-) Wish me luck for the Attitude Awards!!!!!!

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  • Thanks everyone / Attitude Awards

      3 November 2014
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    Hi everyone, It's been all go lately, comps are now finished for the year and I am busy still with lessons and learning all the dances and acting for my role of Daddy Warbucks for our end of year concert. Me and Mum have been very humbled by all your generousity. Thank you so much for your donations, I wish I could thank you all personally. Without your help, it would be a lot harder for me to get to the boys ballet summer school. I'm off to get my passport photo done this week, it's so exciting!!!!!!!! As you know, I am a finalist in the Attitude Awards for Artistic Achievement for my dancing and choreography. But I am also in the running for the People's Choice Award. Please help by voting for me for the Attitude People's Choice Award. Just go to http://attitudelive.com/votable/salem-foxx and you can vote once every day until the 3rd of December. You can vote from anywhere, not just New Zealand. Please pass this on. Thanks so much for all your support Salem xox

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  • Salem goes to teach ballet class

      3 October 2014

    I'm off on the train to go to teach a ballet class at Waikanae Dance School

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  • I need your help - Amp People's Choice Scholarship

      21 September 2014
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    Hello to all my supporters, I am needing your help and votes. With one election down, here is another one of sorts. This year, I have applied for the AMP gDo Your Thingh Peoplefs Choice Scholarship in which people vote for you and whoever gets the most votes will win the scholarship of $10,000. Voting is on Facebook and is open from Monday 22nd September until closing on October 13th. Only people with a New Zealand IP address can vote. I would love it if you voted for me and share this with others. Voting starts tomorrow and I will have details listed on my page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-Salem-Foxx/270946429720441. Thank you. I am hoping to win this scholarship so I can continue learning more about dance, performing and choreographing more. So far I have choreographed seventeen dances. I also want to put together a boyfs ballet class so that young boys can have the chance to try ballet with other boys and not feel like it is a girly thing to do. This year I have been teacherfs assistant for a grade one ballet class and also held a very successful boyfs only ballet class with the Waikanae Dance School. I loved teaching both. But I really want to concentrate on getting a boys class going first, as boys learn so differently than girls and male technique is quite different. I have had to unlearn quite a bit myself and am very lucky to be taught male technique by the Trimmers. Sir Jon has said that a good way of cementing what you have learnt, is by teaching it to others. If you are interested in the boys class for boys 6-10 years old here in Paraparaumu, leave me a message here on my facebook page. If you want to find out more information about me, please check out my YouTube channel Ballet Boy NZ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWosTjBuKQhhucPJMxSK7Xg where you can see lots of my dances, and my blog http://www.balletboynz.blogspot.co.nz/ . Thank you for your help. Salem xx

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  • Exam Time

      19 September 2014
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    Hi everyone, I've got my contemporary exams next week so I am practicing hard so that I do well in them. Then a few days later it is up to Palmerston North for comps, my second to last for the year. On Monday I have the Attitude film crew coming to film and interview me, then straight afterwards I have a reporter from one of the local newspapers coming to interview me too. Then I have to fit some practice in there somewhere. It's going to be a busy day. In a couple of weeks Mum is going to apply for my passport which is exciting, another step to getting to Sydney and the Boys Ballet Summer School. I would like to thank you all for your support in helping me get there and for your generous donations, it means a lot :-) Thanks Salem xx

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  • Polaroid Millenium - Lyrical

      14 September 2014

    This is my Nana's favourite dance. I was filmed at the Upper Hutt Modern Comps earlier this year. I hope you enjoy it.

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  • Lots of good news!!!!

      12 September 2014
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    Hi Everyone It's been a very exciting time for me lately, I've had my ballet exam results back. I passed with distinction with a mark of 96%. I am so pleased with that as I really worked hard. Because I got over 90%, I received a platinum award too. I've had lots of good feed back from the documentary about me on Attitude, you can watch it online at http://attitudelive.com/blog/dan-buckingham/documentary-salems-ballet . I am also a finalist in the Attitude Awards for Creative Achievement so they will be flying me and Mum up to Auckland in December for the awards. A film crew will be interviewing me some more in just over a week so I will be on TV again in October and December. Oh yeah, I have just found out I am a provisional finalist for the Pride Awards for Creative Achievement and Innovation (Senior) Awards. I feel so lucky. Plus I have two competitions coming up, the first in two weeks time up in Palmerston North and I will get to perform my new jazz solo for the first time. I'm very excited about that, it's quite a funny dance. Straight before that I have my contemporary exams. For my medal exam I get to do one of my own dances, ""In the Shadows"" which I have shortened. At my dance school in Tawa, Hayley Johnsons Academy of Dance, I have been cast as Daddy Warbucks for the end of year production of ""Annie"". I am going to be so busy in Term 4!!!!!! But I like being busy :-) I am really looking forward to the boys ballet summer school, Mum has bought my plane ticket, so it really is all go now. Thank you all for your support, please spread the word if you know of anyone who would be interested in looking at my page here. Thanks Salem

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  • My demi-character dance - Robin Hood

      30 July 2014

    This is my demi-character dance which I had so much fun choreographing and performing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy performing it :-)

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  • Salem's Ballet

      30 July 2014

    This is a promo of the documentary of me and my dancing which will be showing on TVNZ1 this Sunday at 8.30 am and then will be on TVNZ On Demand.

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  • I'm going to be on TV this weekend!!!!

      30 July 2014
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    Hi everyone, just recently, in May and June, I was filmed for the documentary series ""Attitude"". My episode is on this weekend. I have put a video of the promo up on my Givealittle page but you can also find it at http://youtu.be/a6rKxGn8ME0. The full documentary is on this Sunday, 3rd August, at 8.30 am but will be on TVNZ on Demand after that. It is about me having Aspergers Syndrome and my love of dance. I hope you enjoy it.

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  • Update for 25/07/2014

      25 July 2014
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    I don't know where the time goes. Winter seems to be a very busy time for me. I've done a few more competitions and have done well in them, a few more ribbons, cups and lots of reports. My exams went well, distinction for both my jazz and ballet shields. I am still waiting on my results for my intermediate exam though. I spent a week going to winter school at the New Zealand School of Dance, leaving home at 7.40 am and getting home at around 8.40 pm..... it was such a long day but I loved it!!!!! I learnt lots and made lots of new friends. I't's got me all excited for the boys summer school. Thank you all again for your support, it means so much to me!!!!! keep warm until next time. Salem

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  • Getting Ready for Auckland

      28 May 2014
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    It's been very busy these last few weeks with all my normal classes plus the extra practices for the performance team. It's only a week away before I get on a plane for the first time to fly up to Auckland for the BTDA Festival. I had a good practice today at the studio up at the gym. I was practicing all my solos plus doing another choreography, another acro dance. I always seem to create a new dance just before exams as relaxation. My vocational exam is a week after the festival. It's all go!!!!! Thank you again to all my supporters, your help means a lot to me. Keep warm :-) Salem xx

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  • Enjoying a day off.

      18 April 2014
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    It's been a very busy few weeks and it's lovely to have a day off today being Easter Friday. Lessons have finished for the term and it is school holiday's for the next couple of weeks but I will still be doing lots of practice and performances. Having three competitions over three weekends in a row has been very tiring so I am not doing any more until I go off to Auckland as part of Waikanae Dance School's performance team to compete at the BTDA Festival. There is lots of practices to go to leading up to this in June as I am in troupe, trios, duos and of course my solos. Phew, I'm going to be busy!!!!!! I brought home some more trophies on the weekend, I got most promising dancer again and won 1st place for my Robin Hood demi-character. I was very pleased to get 2nd place for my neo-classical which I had never performed before. I have added a few more photos to my collection on this page. Thank you again to all of my supporters and have a happy and safe Easter!!!!!!

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  • I did well at the Palmerston North Competitions

      2 April 2014
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    I was up in Palmerston North over the weekend to compete in the PNDA Restricted and Impromptu Competitions. It was my first lot of competitions for this year and it was a nice way to get back into it. Also I had never been to Palmerston North before. Actually, I haven't really been anywhere before. I was really different than Kapiti and Wellington. I entered the impromptu dances along with some of myown dances, all of which I choreographed myself. I debuted my new demi-character dance gRobin Hoodh, I think it was well received and I got a first placing which was very exciting. This dance is really funny and I couldn't wait to perform it. I think it took everyone by surprise. I was awarded first place for my Krakowiak national character dance and I got a trophy for highest marks for national character. I also got 2 1st places, 2 2nd places, 4 3rd places and a VHC, HC, and a C. It was so much fun but I was very tired as I had to do 7 dances on the Sunday. Thanks Mum for helping me with all the quick changes.

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  • ""Thank you!"" and it's competition time.

      20 March 2014
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    Sorry I have done an update for a while. A big thank you to my supporters and ""Hello to Felix from Germany"". I have been busy getting ready for my first competitions for this year. I am off up to Palmerston North on Friday for the PNDA competitions. I will be competing on all three days. And I am the first dancer up on the Friday. Oh Boy!!! It will be great fun. Other dancers from my dance school (Waikanae Dance School) will be up there as well. I have also been doing some more choreography and I have now choreographed 12 dances which I use at comps. It will be the debut of my new demi-character dance ""Robin Hood"". It is very funny. Wish me luck!!!!

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  • Update for 18/01/2014

      18 January 2014
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    Yesterday was my last day of Summer School. I left home every morning at 6.15 to get the bus, train and another bus to get to the New Zealand School of Dance ready for the warm-up. I had contemporary, jazz, repertoire and classical ballet classes. I had a great time dancing and catching up with friends. I would get back home after 7 pm very tired but looking forward to the next morning. Today was my big sleep in which wasn't very long. I'm used to getting up super early now. This summer school has made me super excited about the boy's summer school on the 29th December in Sydney, I can't wait!!!!!!

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  • Update for 03/01/2014

      3 January 2014
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    I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year. I've been busy practicing, finished a new dance and getting out my pointe shoes, yes I do pointe too, as I want to choreograph a dance en pointe. Should surprise a few people in comps during the later half of this year. I am looking forward to the Wellington Summer School coming up in just over a weeks time. Dance all day, all week and catch up with friends. Should be fun!!!!! I have now got a You Tube channel ""Ballet Boy NZ"" which you can find at : http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWosTjBuKQhhucPJMxSK7Xg/videos I will be adding more videos soon.

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