Bay News: Dancer stretches her fundraising potential

Jasmine Miller, 13, is fundraising to travel to the United States with her dance company to participate in an LA Dance Tour.

Dance means everything to Jasmine Miller. The 13-year old contemporary dancer has been given the opportunity of a lifetime as she has been invited to travel to the United States with Motions Concepts Academy of Dance and participate in the LA Dance Tour 2015.

The only hurdle Jasmine faces is that she has to raise at least $5700 to make it happen.

"It's an amazing opportunity, and it includes dance classes with well-known choreographers and dancing in front of an international audience at Disneyland," Jasmine says.

"I'm especially excited about the seminars, as they teach you how to make it in the dance world."

Although Jasmine is not sure about teaching, she sees a career for herself in dance and says she definitely wants to keep dancing for as long as she can.

The teen from Whakamarama who attends Otumoetai College started dancing 3 years ago when she moved with her mum Megan to Tauranga from the Hawke's Bay. She says it is an awesome feeling to do what you love and express yourself to music.

Jasmine dances at Motions Concepts Academy of Dance on Devonport Road four times a week after school, and says it is an awesome, friendly and family-based studio. She calls Mila Barach, who owns the studio and teaches most classes, an amazing person.

Jasmine has set up a page on www.givealittle.co.nz and uses Instagram to raise funds.
She also wants to sell fruit at local markets to help raise funds.

Jasmine is grateful to some of her mum's clients who are selling fruit on her behalf, and to her supportive family and friends.

Megan, who works as a personal trainer and weight coach, says her daughter is also looking at other ways to get the money together.

"Jasmine is great at taking photographs, and is thinking about turning her photos into cards to sell," she says.

If you would like to help get Jasmine to the US, see www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/jasminesdancetrip or check out www.instagram.com/jasminedance-fundraising