Scholarship auditions to be held for places at Mellor Performing Arts School

A performing arts principal who became a professional dancer thanks to a grant is launching a scholarship programme to help others.

Michelle Mellor, owner of Burnham-based Mellor Performing Arts School, is looking for four local children to join her academy where a year’s worth of classes,

uniform and support will be paid for.

花费数千英镑,奖学金covered by Michelle, her television actor husband Will Mellor, Creative Academy Slough, and other supporters.

Previously, Michelle offered a scholarship ‘in secret’ to families struggling financially but now an official fund has been created.

She said: “I’ve seen too many children who have had to give up classes. There was this one child who would struggle to continue but they had so much potential. I couldn’t see it go to waste so I provided them with ‘a secret’ scholarship.

“It’s not just people with money who have talent,” she said.

米歇尔是推出该计划by Fame actress Debbie Allen, who

offers 80 per cent of places in her USA performing arts school to scholarship students.

“She is giving children from inner cities the chance to go on to do films and all these amazing things and it inspired me.

“I was able to do what I do now and be a professional dancer because I got a grant. Just them taking that one chance on me has made me go on to do so much and now I can give back.”

Auditions will take place on November 12 in two groups:

juniors, aged five to nine years, are invited in between 10am-12pm and seniors, aged ten to 15 years, between 1-3pm.

Both involve one dance (to be taught on the day) plus one short monologue and a short song, both featured on the academy’s website.

No experience is necessary – the only requirement is that applicants live within five miles of Burnham.

“They don’t have to be experienced but we are looking for talent and drive.

“I’m doing auditions because I think if you have to work for something then you appreciate it more.

“We’ll give them all the help that they need but they’ve got to really want it and work towards it or someone else will be behind them who needs it more.”

Michelle said that there are lots of talented children in Burnham and she’s hoping that those who ‘wake up each the morning and know that they want to be a performer’ will come along and try it out.

“Just come and have fun. There’s nothing to lose – that’s the main thing.”

Auditions will take place on November 12 at Creative Academy Slough.

Visit mpaschool.co.uk for more details.