A Performing Arts student at Cheshire College – South & West’s Crewe Campus has been awarded a prestigious DaDA scholarship, after impressing staff during his audition at SLP College Leeds.
Level 2 student Harvey says that he has loved performing from a very young age: “My granddad got me into ballet at age 5, and I was touring near Chester for a while. I did a few performances in ‘A Christmas Carol’, ‘Oliver Twist’ and ‘The Snow Queen’ but then I had the chance to visit the Royal London Opera House. Looking out at the grandeur of the place really inspired me to pursue a career in performing arts.”
After being talented spotted at a festival in Chester, Harvey was invited to the Duke of Westminster’s house where he was awarded a scholarship to join the Hammond School of performing arts in Chester. However, after leaving the Hammond School, personal circumstances caused Harvey to suffer a prolonged period of poor mental health, ultimately resulting in his hospitalisation.
Harvey said the support which he subsequently received from staff at Cheshire College was incredible: “My lecturers and support staff always worked really hard to accommodate my mental health and my educational needs. They were always advocating for me, and I was able to rediscover my love for performing all over again.”
With his newfound confidence, Harvey decided to apply for the SLP College in Leeds, which specialises in performing arts.
As part of his audition for SLP’s Level 6 Dance qualification, Harvey performed several pieces for a judging panel, including ‘Memory’ from the musical ‘Cats’: “I attached the song to old memories from my past and I channelled the sadness of the song. It’s a very emotional piece for me and I started crying in my audition. At the end, the judging panel said my performance was marvellous and asked me to perform it again in front of the principal.
“So, I did the piece again, and cried again. When it was over the principal asked: “Why do you do what you do, Harvey?” I told him that performing keeps me going. He offered me a place on the spot, and I just dropped to my knees and cried. He was wearing a blue jumper so when I got up and gave him a hug, I left tear marks on it!”
After confirming that he had been accepted to study at SLP, the College subsequently contacted Harvey again to say that he had been awarded a DaDA scholarship, which helps with fees and living costs at some of the UK’s most esteemed dance and drama schools. A DaDA scholarship is extremely competitive, and obtaining it places Harvey in an excellent position to fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a cruise ship performer in the future.
Find out more at www.ccsw.ac.uk.