My name is Jessica and I am a 16 year old Jersey girl, currently studying for my GCSE’s. My passion for dancing started when I began ballet lessons aged just 4; I then started modern lessons, quickly followed by tap, singing lessons & then drama training, my love for musical theatre had definitely begun. Despite being deaf and wearing hearing aids in both ears, I dance, sing and act and am determined being deaf won’t hold me back from achieving my goals, the main one being to pursue a career in Musical Theatre. I am very lucky to have been supported by some wonderful teachers so far, along with other amazingly talented people I have worked with, I am truly grateful for all the training, advice & help I have been given.

After auditioning at Bird College for Performing Arts, I was thrilled to be offered a place on the three-year Musical Theatre diploma course, starting in September 2018. My mum has been incredible doing her best to support me in every way, however the cost of going to Bird College is completely out of her reach. We have both been doing all we can to try and raise the funds needed & are so grateful for the help we have received so far; which includes a grant from Jersey Student Finance and several generous donations from trusts, foundations & friends, but we are still short, by approx £7500 for the first year, so a few friends suggested I try crowd fundraising.

I am an active member of a local Amateur Dramatic society and have taken part in many of their productions, gaining valuable performance experience both with them and a local Performance Agency. In 2016 I won a gold medal in the Dance World Cup, in the solo Jazz Show Dance category, a moment I will never forget. As well as enjoying what I do, my mum has always encouraged me to try to give back and help at local charity events, I have danced at quite a few charity functions so far.

An idea I have for the future is to introduce a new dance category for deaf children in the Jersey Eisteddfod and hopefully into UK regional competitions, hopefully inspiring other deaf children to pursue their goals.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little about me, if you are able to support me in anyway I would be very grateful, Jessica x