My name is Lee van der Merwe, and I am a recent graduate of the Cape Academy of Performing Arts, Cape Town, South Africa, having completed a three year course and an honours year (on an awarded partial scholarship) with distinction. I used much of my savings to travel to London to audition for Dance opportunities. I was offered a wonderful educational and professional-experience opportunity by being offered a place in the JV2 Company programme, which is the Jasmin Vardimon Junior Company programme based at the Jasmin Vardimon studios in Ashford, Kent. JV2 is a 8 month programme for 12 dancers who are trained full time in contemporary dance and dance-related studies; learn Jasmin Vardimon company repertoire; work with the main company; and create their own production with choreography by Jasmin Vardimon and 2 other choreographers which then tours nationally.
With the international fee being £17500 (approximately R301087, and the extremely expensive exchange rate), attending this programme would be impossible without financial assistance, and because I was so truly inspired, motivated and enlightened by working with Jasmin Vardimon at the JV2 audition, I am even more desperate to join this incredible programme than before.
I am hugely grateful that I have been awarded the JV2 International Bursary which levels out the JV2 international student fee of £17500, to the UK citizen student fee of £6250.
However, I do not have the funds to cover the cost of the remaining fees, my living expenses, Student Visa and flight tickets.
UK/EU Tuition fees needed: £6250, Student Visa fee needed: £335, Return flight to London cost needed: £554-£600, Accommodation for a room in a shared apartment or house in the Kent area, at £350-£450 a month (£2800-£3600 for the 8 month course), Food £200 a month (£1600 for the 8 month course), Any other smaller costs such astransport to the studios, toiletries etc. at £20 (£160 for the 8 month course)