A ballet dancer from South East Cornwall has won a place in the final of one of the world’s most prestigious competitions.
Sixteen-year-old Olivia Parham won a place among the best six senior women dancers in Europe on her way to achieving a place in the New York final of the world’s biggest ballet competition.
Now the teenager is determined to raise the £2,000 she needs to travel to America to represent Britain in the final in April.
Olivia lives in Callington with mum and dad Jackie and Tim and brothers Ben, 20, and Sam, 18.
Ben is in his final year at Plymouth University training to become a nurse like his mum and dad, who both work at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
Sam and Olivia are at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, in association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, training full time to be ballet dancers.
Olivia has been there since she was 11 and Sam since he was 16. They spend five hours every day on dance, as well as normal school studies.
‘They are extremely dedicated and have given up their childhood and home life to pursue a dream,’ said mum Jackie.
In August, Olivia flew to Florence in Italy to represent the UK in the International Cecchetti Ballet Competition.
She made the finals and was awarded a scholarship to attend the Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals in Paris in November.
YAGP is the biggest worldwide ballet competition, featured in the film First Position.
Olivia was placed in the top six senior women in Europe and invited to compete in the finals that are held in New York at the Lincoln Centre in April.
More than 7,000 dancers take part worldwide and only up to 300 make it to New York.
‘This is an amazing achievement and so far Liv is the only UK dancer selected,’ said Jackie.
‘We are so, so proud of her achievement.
‘The passion, dedication and sacrifices that these children make is incredible.’
Olivia has launched a GoFundMe campaign to enable her to dance in the finals in New York from April 12 to 21.
Her fund-raising page can be found at www.gofundme.com/olivias-yagp-ny-finals