Grace Taylor, Professional Dancer

Hi, my name is Grace Taylor and I am writing this to thank the Trustees for their support, which has helped me pursue my career.  I have been benefiting from the educational grants since 2014 when I received a Gifted & Talented Grant, and then for the 3 years of my Degree Course when I received a Student Grant. 

I started dancing when I was 4 years old as a hobby. My parents put me into dance because I was a very shy child and they hoped it would bring out some confidence in me.

I danced at Christine Anderson Theatre School in Rugby for 7 years. During this time I took part in 2 productions with the English Youth Ballet, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. At the age of 8 these were the biggest productions I’d ever taken part in and they are what spurred my love of ballet and my want to become a professional. 

After this my mum along with my dance teacher looked into vocational classical ballet schools that I could audition for to begin the process of my professional training and in the September of 2014 I began at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. This was the most scary but important step I have ever taken, attending boarding school at 11 was daunting for both me and my parents. However it was the best place to allow me to begin my journey as a professional dancer. 

At 16 I then took another big step and moved to London to pursue classical training at the Central School of Ballet. There I spent 3 years refining my technique and growing as an artist alongside working on a Bachelors Degree in Professional Dance and Performance with the University of Kent. I graduated in the July of 2022 with a 2:1.

In September 2022 I moved to Toulouse in the South of France to work as an apprentice with a ballet company. Taking company class and rehearsals every day, the company tour around France performing all the big classical ballets. I have performed in Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. I am proud to have fulfilled my lifelong dream.

In March 2023 I was offered a full time position with Disneyland Paris and I perform character roles and stage shows. I wish to keep dancing and performing for as long as long as I can because nothing beats the feeling of being on stage. 

I am beyond grateful for the grants I have received throughout my professional training; they have been a huge help when supplying myself with enough pointe shoes and tights to get me through. For reference we go through a pair of pointe shoes every 2 weeks, so I really have made the best use out of my grants! Thank you to The Welton Town Lands Trust for all their support.

The Welton Town Lands Trust donates around £1500 per year to support the school, students of higher education and young people with special gifts or talents.