In the Newspaper Again for the Attitude Awards

It's not long now until we fly up to Auckland for the Attitude Awards.

We fly up on Wednesday morning and the awards are on that night.  Salem is really looking forward to the whole experience.  His first "black tie" event.

Attitude Awards finalists: Recognising extraordinary talent

LIAM HYSLOP

November 26 2014

The Attitude Awards acknowledge the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who live with disabilities.

There are seven categories featuring people whose extraordinary talents have often failed to be recognised by the rest of New Zealand.

Sportsmen and women such as Mary Fisher and Sophie Pascoe are nominated, as well as a host of others who do remarkable things while living with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities or mental health issues.

This year's awards will be held at the Auckland Viaduct Events Centre next Wednesday.

The Attitude Awards, which were first held in 2008, are the only national awards that celebrate achievement in the disability sector across all disabilities. 

To view all of the finalists and vote for them in the People's Choice award, go here.

Salem Foxx - Artistic Achievement Award finalist

As a toddler Salem couldn't communicate with anyone other than by screaming and hitting. But after joining his older brother's dance classes, Salem found his passion and a way to work through the frustrations of living with Asperger's syndrome.

The Kapiti Coast-based 14-year-old has his sights set on an international dance career and combines his love of ballet with contemporary dance, jazz, lyrical, tap and even acrobatic dance.

And he's very good.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet has chosen him four times for their productions and this year the New Zealand School of Dance selected him from a list of hundreds to be one of only three junior associates in contemporary dance.

He also receives private tuition and feedback from New Zealand Ballet royalty Sir Jon and Lady Jacqui Trimmer.

He also writes a blog called Balletboynz, which is read around the world and has been included as resource material by the London Boys Ballet School.He Salem said the blog enabled people to get an insight into how he thought.thinks,.

"It helps people understand how I think and how other people with Asperger's think and how they can understand me a bit more," Salem said..

He got a huge thrill out of performing on stage.

"I really love performing on stage with lots of people watching," he said.

"It's just amazing, it really is."

THE 2014 ATTITUDE AWARD FINALISTS:

Attitude Courage In Sport Award

Tupou Neiufi

Neelam O'Neill

Matthew Weir

Attitude Sport Performer Award

Mary Fisher

Sophie Pascoe

Corey Peters

Attitude Spirit of Attitude Award

Craig Jessop

Pam MacNeill

Julie Woods

Attitude Making a Difference Award

Lyn Cotton

Petronella Spicer

Brendan Tourelle

Attitude Youth Award

Mary Fisher

Jessica Quinn

Jazz Thornton

Attitude ACC Employer Award

Fairfax Media NZ Ltd

Pacific Helmets (NZ) Ltd

Selwyn Cook, SSC Service Stations (licensed retailer for Z Energy, Waikato)

Artistic Achievement Award

Paul Barrett

Salem Foxx

Yaniv Janson

Attitude Junior Award

Nicholas Brockelbank

Muskan Devta

Oceana Olsen

 - Stuff