A DANCER from Wotton-under-Edge hopes people can find it in her hearts to help her realise her dream.

Danielle Schofield, 21, first began learning ballet when she was three-years-old and has now just finished training at The Judith Hockaday School of Dance and Drama in Swindon.

She intends to finalise her dance training by attending a performing arts college, but with no government funding on offer, Danielle hopes people who enjoy the arts will support her as she tries to achieve her long-held ambition.

“The idea came after chatting with my friend who set up a crowdfunding page so that she could go to the Olympics [paralympian Chloe Ball Hopkins of Kingswood],” Danielle told the Gazette.

“I think it’s a shame that the government doesn’t help fund the arts, and I hope people would be interested in helping me with something I’ve worked for my whole life.

“I’ve been doing this since I was three, and I really couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.”

Beginning with ballet lessons at the Ruth Osborne School of Dancing, Danielle went on to try for grades in a variety of genres, and now dances in a range of styles, including tap, jazz, modern and street,

After finishing her GCSEs in 2011 she went on to study for a Level 3 Diploma in dance from South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, before moving onto the Judith Hockaday College in 2013.

Not only does she have a number of qualifications for her dancing abilities, but Danielle also earned a diploma in dance instruction, meaning she can help younger dancers as they learn the ropes.

A degree in performing arts is now the final door before she can enter the professional world of musical theatre. As well as developing dancing abilities, performing arts colleges also teach about auditions and how to break into one’s creative field.

Despite a number of offers – from colleges in Leeds, Cambridge, Essex and London – Danielle needs financial support before she can enrol on one of the courses.

If you would like to help Danielle achieve her dream, visit dontwishforit.weebly.com or gofundme.com/dontwishforit.