From the 17th -  29th Aug I will be fulfilling a dream of mine by spending two weeks of dancing full time. When I started to talk about my plans, I received a lot of interest and respect which made me consider to start a fundraiser to support a worthy cause. After all I doubt very much that I will ever participate in a marathon or similar ;)

So what's the challenge?

12 days of training - 7 hrs per day - 2 ballets - 1 rest day

I don't think I need to explain how physically and mentally demanding ballet is. The longest intensive I have done to date was three full days, so this will be 4 times as much. But I hope taking an average of 4 (usually 90 min) classes a week over the last 9 months would have given me enough stamina and strength to make it through this in one piece and without significant injuries.

What's the cause?

I couldn't live my teenage dream of becoming a professional ballerina, but I feel that now I can try to help others live their dreams. I have decided to support a student bursary at the Central School of Ballet (CSB) as I wanted to make a real difference to someone's life. I would be really grateful if you could support me in this. Thank you in advance.

"Donations are more than supporting. They give life to opportunities." Andrei (CSB Graduate July 2015) is one of this year's bursary recipients.

"Being offered a bursary has made a huge difference in my last 2 years of training. It helped me to pursu[e] my dream, studying in one of the leading ballet schools in the UK with some of the best teachers. It has been a dream getting to study in such a motivating environment full of talented people. All of this would have never happened due to my mother's financial difficulties. It is an amazing opportunity that I have been given, and which without I would have never been able to follow a professional career. My mother and I have worried that I might not be able to graduate at Central School of Ballet. Living in London is ridiculously expensive, plus adding all the transport fees, food and equipment expenses, it makes you think twice before applying for a dance school. Since I found out that I will be given financial support, I could focus more on my training which has been my principal aim from the beginning. It has been a release, knowing that I do not have to worry about my financial situation anymore. A difficulty that each 3rd year student from a ballet school faces is the auditioning process. Travelling around the world, applying for some of the leading dance companies is really expensive. Due to the financial support I received this year, I managed to go abroad and take company classes with a lot of well known companies like National Ballet of Portugal, or State Ballet Munich."

Andrei is now taking leading roles in performances by the school's touring company, Ballet Central. He has had the opportunity to perform in venues all around the UK, including in the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House, with Ballet Central. Quite simply, this talented young dancer has had his life changed through the generosity of several individuals who have got behind him and provided the fund he needed to enable him to develop his talent.

A large number of CSB's students come from low income families. The Senior School students start as young as 16 years old, and they come from the UK and abroad. They have to work out how to live in London and adjust to an intensive training schedule. The financial burden on them and their families is immense, and many of these students simply would not be able to continue their training without support. The school is committed to ensuring that talented young dancers are able to have access to the same training opportunities irrespective of their financial status, so t does what it can to raise support to help these students continue their training.

Those students needing help can apply for a scholarship or bursary through CSB's scholarship and bursary scheme. Funds donated to the school are carefully managed through this scheme; students have to prove that they have tried to fundraise for themselves first, all applications are assessed by a panel of staff and the school ensures that the money goes to those most in need.

The student to be supported will be selected in the autumn term of 2015. This will allow the new first year students to arrive and CSB to assess the financial needs of each student so the help goes to one or more individuals who are most in need. Although this will be decided after my fundraising challenge, I have been offered the opportunity to meet him or her and see them in class.

Why Central School of Ballet?

CSB is the place where it al started for me nine months ago and where these two summer intensive courses will be held (organised by London Amateur Ballet). It is my way to thank the school that got me back into dance. The leadership of the school has also taken a real interest in my fundraiser and has been very supportive throughout.

CSB is one of the UK's leading dance schools, and the training these students have access to is of an extremely high standard. 83.6% of CSB's gain employment within 12 months of graduation. The roll call of companies CSB graduates has joined includes: Ballet Black, Ballet Cymru, Billy Elliot (West End), Birmingham Royal Ballet, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, English National Ballet, K Ballet (Tokyo), National Ballet of Portugal, Phantom of the Opera (West End and Worldwide Tour), Phoenix Dance Theatre, Grand Ballet Poznan (Poland), National Opera & Ballet Theatre Romania, Scottish Ballet and Singapore Dance Theatre. Your support will help to give one or more of these talented young dancers the chance to have a professional career in dance.

Why ballet?

I have loved ballet from an early age and was heartbroken when I had to stop to move to university. Since then I struggled to find a suitable adult ballet class that would give me the same buzz. Last year, on a dark November evening I made another attempt to get back into it. This is where it just clicked and since then everything else just snowballed...

Over the last 9 months I have been incredibly lucky and privileged as I had the opportunity to:

• get back to dance en pointe within 6 weeks of being back in class
• be taught by amazing (current and retired) dancers from world famous companies like the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet
• take several workshops and intensive classes to learn amazing (and challenging) pieces of choreography, from Swan Lake, Onegin, Fille mal Gardee, La Sylphide, Rubies / Serenade (Balanchine) and In The Middle Somewhat Elevated (Forsythe)
• take class in the Royal Opera House
• perform on stage at the Bloomsbury Theatre in front of several hundred people and last but nor least
• made some amazing friends along the way (you know who you are)

Special thanks

I want to use this opportunity to thank London Amateur Ballet (http://www.londonamateurballet.com) and Crystal Ballet (http://www.crystalballet.com) for making my dreams come true :)

When can we see you dance?

I will be posting updates and pictures during the summer intensives but if you were interested to see me 'in action' here are a few opportunities:

• 22nd Aug 4pm (max 45min) - Giselle. Location: Rambert Ballet School in Twickenham. Free showing for family and friends (low key)
• 29th Aug 4pm (max 45min) - La Bayadere. Location: Rambert Ballet School in Twickenham. Free showing for family and friends (low key)
• 19th Dec (TBC) - London Amateur Ballet Christmas show. Location in London (TBC)

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