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Ballet for a Boy Sydney 2015/16

  • Thank you for your support

      17 February 2016

    I hope everyone has had a great start to the new year. I want to give a big thank you to everyone for your support and help to get me over to Sydney. I had such a great time, learnt so much and already planning to go over again at the end of the year again.

    It is such a great experience to be taught by men who have had careers as professional dancers and then have become teachers. They are all such good role models and a real inspiration for me. This is what I want to do in the future. I want to have a career as a professional ballet dancer and then later on, as a choreographer and teacher. I hope I can end up inspiring young boys (and girls) the way these teachers do.

    I have had a few changes this year, I am doing a ballet class at a different school which means I get to do class with two other guys which is lots of fun.

    I no longer practice up at the gym, I now have a practice hall, with wooden floors, yay, which I have once a week for several hours in exchange for me cleaning windows. I do the rest of my practice at home in my studio, my mum gave up the lounge, sold the couches, so that I have my own dance space.

    I have been going to ballet intensives with Martin James and have been learning a lot, learnt new variations and Martin doesn't mind me doing pointe with the girls. I've got some new black pointe shoes coming over from Russia soon. My feet are too big and I can't buy my size here in New Zealand. I'm proud to say that I bought those myself by doing gardening jobs.

    It's another year of working hard, lots of practicing and learning as much as I can. Thank you for being a big part of my training, without your help I would not have made it to Sydney. Thank you for your generosity!!!!!!!!

    Have a great year everyone - Salem :-)

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  • Salem's Having a great time in Sydney

      31 December 2015
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    Salem's mum here doing this update.

    Salem is having a fantastic time in Sydney, learning lots from fantastic teachers and loving being with so many other boys who love dancing. It was great catching up with friends from last year and making new ones.

    Yesterday after their classes, they all went on a trip to Manly beach. Salem said the waves were huge and some of the other boys taught him how to dive under the waves, over the waves and of course when to swim with the waves. Our local beach is not really a surf beach so he had great fun.

    It was back to classes today and tonight all the boys will be watching the fireworks display over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They are in the most perfect place to watch the fireworks. Shore School where the summer school is being held gets a fantastic view.

    I think Salem would love the summer school to be much longer in duration, at least another week. I think he would be happy with the whole of the summer holidays.

    I can't wait to see what he as learnt, he will show me when he gets home.

    Thank you to everyone who has donated and helped Salem get to summer school this year, we really appreciate your help and your faith in him as a dancer. Salem gets so much out of attending this particular summer school, where else can he have the opportunity to be trained by all male teachers in an all male environment.

    Have a wonderful New Year, all the best from Salem and myself - Michelle

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  • Merry Christmas

      25 December 2015
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    I hope everyone is having a great Christmas and spending time with family and friends.

    I can't believe that in two days I will be boarding a plane and flying off to Sydney.

    I would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has made a donation to help me get to the Sydney Boys Ballet Summer School. It means a lot to me that you have supported me on my journey to become a professional dancer.

    Ballet is my life and I am working hard to be a better dancer and to learn from every opportunity.

    I have had some amazing things happen this year including winning two huge awards, more teaching, and I now have regular gardening work which has been a big help too, plus it will help me with next years lessons and go towards saving for next summers trip to Sydney.

    I hope everyone has a fantastic new year and stay happy and safe over the holidays.

    Thank you so much Salem :-)

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  • Two very exciting awards!!!!!

      10 December 2015
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    Hello to all my supporters, it's been an exciting time for me lately, along with the excitement of Summer School getting nearer, I have been so very luck to have been the winner of two awards.

    The first being the International Naturally Autistic People's Award for Performing Arts (Youth) at the ANCA World Autism Festival which was held in Vancouver, Canada. I wasn't able to attend but maybe one year I will be able to.

    Last week on World Disability Day, I attended the Attitude Awards in Auckland. It is such a great event, so many amazing people there. I was very surprised and very honoured to be the winner of the Artistic Achievement Award. You can watch the awards at this link http://attitudelive.com/documentary/attitude-awards-2015

    Thank you all for supporting me and Merry Christmas to you all, I can't believe it is nearly Christmas already.

    Salem :-)

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  • A new video clip for the Attitude Awards

      15 November 2015
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    Hi everyone, thank you so much for your support, it means so much to me.

    It's an exciting time for me at the moment, a new video clip of me was on the Attitude Awards Nominees programme was on tv this morning. You can see my clip at http://attitudelive.com/votable/salem-foxx-0

    The awards are on the 3rd of December so I will be going to that. Last year I met so many amazing people.

    Then I am going to a ballet seminar here in Wellington taken by Martin James, a whole week of ballet, I'm really looking forward to it.

    And not long after that is Christmas then flying off to Australia for the Boys Ballet Summer School. I can't wait. Thank you for helping me on my way to Sydney :-) Salem

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  • It's not long now 'til December and Summer School

      20 October 2015
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    I would like to give a big thank you to everyone who has made a donation to my Givealittle fundraiser. A big shout out to my supporter in Germany too. I am getting closer to going to the Boy's Ballet Summer School in Sydney.

    December isn't very far away now and I'm looking forward to joining the other guys for a week of dancing. It's not very often I get to dance with lots of other boys. It's an amazing experience and we have fantastic teachers too.

    My teachers over here are wonderful too but it is so nice to get a totally male perspective on dance.

    On the weekend I was honoured to perform at the annual Pride Awards where last year I was an award winner. This year I was back as a performer. I had a great time and congratulations to all the winners.

    The weather is getting nicer as it is springtime and I can do more practices outside which makes a nice change.

    Thank you everyone for your support - Salem :-)

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    • 26/10/2015 by Felix

      Hi Salem, you're grown a lot! Greetings from Kiel. Felix

  • I am a finalist of the 2015 Attitude Awards

      11 October 2015
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    I am lucky enough to be a finalist again this year for the Attitude Awards which are held in Auckland in December. I had a fantastic time there last year and meet some amazing people.

    It is such an honour to be one of three finalists for the Artistic Achievement Award.

    The Attitude film crew came to my grade one class to do some filming, all the students had a great time in front of the camera, they all did very well and looked great.

    My savings are going well for me to attend the Boy's Ballet Summer School at the end of the year, so thank you to everyone who has made a donation to help get me there. :-) Salem

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  • Thank you for getting me started

      26 June 2015
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    Hi everyone, thank you for getting me started on my way to summer school. I'm getting very excited about it already as the registrations have just opened. The guest tutors haven't been announced yet so I'm dying to know who they will be.

    It's been a very busy time lately, still doing all my classes and have been enjoying every moment of assisting with the Grade One's and Two's. Next term it will be all go with getting them ready for their exams.

    Me and my mum were in last weeks Woman's Day. It was a new experience having a photo shoot for them, I couldn't believe how long it was and how many photos were taken. It was fun though.

    I'm getting ready for my third and final competition this year. I will be dancing 16 dances. It will be hard work but I really enjoy performing. Can't wait.

    Thanks again for all your support - Salem :-)

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