A Dancer's Quest: Bolshoi Ballet Bound

My son Zed is on a quest to become a professional ballet dancer. Here's why:

“When I was 6 years old I was exposed to the world of ballet and the intensity of commitment necessary to work in such a world. Since then, my love for ballet has continued to grow and I have learned many lessons, including ‘if you want to succeed you must be driven’ and most importantly ‘to be the ignition to the flame, not just the flame itself’. With this, I have dedicated almost a decade of my life to continually surpassing my limitations, to hopefully become a worthy dancer of limitless possibilities.

My current journey made me believe I was making significant progress towards my goal - but then I saw the intense, raw, macho strength and purified passion of the unrivalled male Bolshoi dancers. They inspired me and sparked my aspirations of becoming a sensational world-class ballet dancer. If I can make it to the Bolshoi Ballet Academy I believe I have the energy, commitment and drive to succeed.

With your help, I hope to achieve great things and inspire you and others around you to achieve their dreams, regardless of the challenges that invisibly exist.

I can’t completely express my gratitude to anyone who decides to donate and support my dream, but my passion and appreciation overflows for all of you. Thank you.”

Zed adores the style of dance epitomised by the Bolshoi Ballet which fuses power, grace, drama, and technical brilliance.

He is determined to become a dancer with the same intensity and passion as the Bolshoi dancers who have captivated audiences for centuries with their exceptional strength, agility, and precision.

This summer he was invited to train full-time at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy - a crucible for artistic excellence, where dreams take flight and ballet legends are born.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Zed to immerse himself in a theatre of exceptional virtuosity, to learn from some of the world’s most esteemed ballet masters, and to dance on the same stage as his idols.

The Bolshoi Ballet Academy was established in 1773 and we believe he will be the first student from Wales to ever train there.

As a family, we now face some very pressing and very significant challenges – including raising enough money to be able to afford the substantial tuition fees, living expenses and travel. The fees alone are $30,000 per year and the first payment of $15,000 is due by the 10th of September, to enable Zed to start on the 1st of October 2024.

Thank you for any support that you feel able to provide and for sharing Zed's quest with others.

You can learn more about Zed, his journey so far and the historical Bolshoi Ballet, by visiting his website (zed.dance)