Freddie Button, from Starbeck in Harrogate, has gained a much sought-after funded place at The Hammond School in Chester, one of the top vocational dance schools in the UK.
Freddie, aged 12, has worked hard to get to this point in his journey. He has been dancing with Katrina Hughes Dancers since the age of 4 and in 2017 successfully auditioned to become a ballet scholar with BBOdance. Last year he auditioned for another vocational school, reaching finals, but unfortunately was unsuccessful. He vowed to keep trying and re-auditioned, again unsuccessfully, earlier this year.
Determined not to give up and showing amazing resilience, he attended a Boys’ masterclass day at the Hammond in January, where he was spotted by vocational staff and invited to audition. After two auditions, Freddie was awarded a full-time boarding place funded by the Department for Education’s Music and Dance Scheme. Without this funding Freddie would have been unable to attend.
Diane and Nick Button, Freddie’s parents, said:
We are incredibly proud of him, not only of his talent, but of his determination, resilience and passion for ballet which is without doubt what will carry him through his ongoing dancing journey. We will miss him but know he will be doing what he loves.
Freddie starts at The Hammond in September.
