Attleborough teenager’s dancing dreams could be dashed
A Norwich coffee shop girl's dream of becoming a professional dancer faces being scuppered if she can not raise the money in time to take up her place at a popular performing arts college.
Aspiring dancer Ashlie Snelling, 19, who works at Starbucks in Castle Mall, is deciding whether to join the Performing Arts School in Cambridge or the Stella Mann College in Bedford to complete a National Diploma in Professional Dance.
Last year the former City College student unsuccessfully applied to both schools, but after 12 months of extra dance classes and another set of gruelling auditions in February she gained the coveted places she had hoped for.
But instead of enjoying the results of her hard work, she could be forced to turn down both offers as she is unable to raise the �9,500 per year needed.
Ashlie, of Leys Lane, Attleborough, said she is not eligible for a student loan because the three-year course she has chosen is not a degree. She is now writing to businesses across the county to see whether they would be prepared to sponsor her and is asking any local organisations which may be able to help to get in touch.
You may also want to watch:
'I start in September. Without help I'll probably not go. The only thing stopping me is the money,' she said.
Ashlie's love of performing began when she took up ballet lessons aged five. Two years later she joined a dance troupe called Dance Express which led her to perform in venues across the world including at Disney World Florida. After leaving Attleborough High School she gained diplomas in performing arts at City College.
Most Read
- 1 Hopes raised former pub could become community hub
- 2 The areas where Covid rates have fallen the fastest since lockdown began
- 3 Before and after: How has Norwich changed over the years?
- 4 'Accidents waiting to happen' - Mum vows not to give up 20mph fight
- 5 Up and coming Norwich musician reaches number 13 in UK charts
- 6 Former village pub for sale as home
- 7 Giant Victorian underground reservoir marks supplying city for 150 years
- 8 'We're all shocked' - Butchers shop attacked by vandals
- 9 Opposition grows over charges to park in Norwich parks
- 10 The secrets and scandals of a former Norwich hotel
She said performing is 'all I have ever dreamed of. Since I started I have never wanted anything else.
'Even when I got told 'no' last year I still didn't want to stop.'
To help, email ashliejsnelling@aol.co.uk
Have you achieved your showbiz dream? Contact us on 01603 772485 or email eveningnews@archant.co.uk
