Fonteyn of talent

24/08/2005

The region’s water company has provided a helping hand for the talented toes of a north east teenager.

Shannon Wright, who was born in Sunderland and lives in Peterlee, has fulfilled one of her lifetime ambitions by being accepted at one of the most prestigious theatre arts schools in the country.

Northumbrian Water is contributing £2000 towards the cost of the sixteen-year-old’s three-year dance and drama diploma at the Betty Laine College for Performing Arts in Surrey.  Six hundred hopeful teenagers applied to the college – only 60 have been accepted.

Sir Fred Holliday, Northumbrian Water’s chairman, had the pleasure of seeing Shannon perform at the launch of one of the company’s community initiatives at Shotton Hall School.  He said:  “I am especially pleased that we can help this talented young ballerina.  I worked for many years with Margot Fonteyn when she was Chancellor of Durham University.  She told me often how important it was to a young ballerina to receive encouragement in the midst of all the hard work.”

The dedication and hard work Shannon has put into her dancing over the years is evident by the competitions that she has won – she is currently North of England champion for tap and she was a finalist in the British Championships for Tap & Modern, held this month, where she attained third place for tap and fourth place for modern.  On average she trains for at least twenty hours a week, but loves every minute of it:  “I was so happy when I received my acceptance letter from the Betty Laine College, but absolutely stunned! 

“I am excited but apprehensive about being away from home.  I am so grateful for all the support I have received from my mum, my dance teachers, my school - Shotton Hall and Northumbrian Water.  As for the future, I would love to perform in London’s West End and would also like to teach.  I will be coming back home often and will hopefully be able to help teach at my current dance school.”

Dancing has been Shannon’s passion from the very young age of four.  Her first dance teacher was Hazel Greenfield in Peterlee who recommended, when she was nine, that she moved to the Marron Stage School, Whickham, where Vicky Richardson still teaches and encourages her.

For further information and interviews please contact Cara Hall on 0191 301 6720.