Passion for dance pays off - News Paper Article

Top attitude: Kapiti dancer Salem Foxx is a finalist
in the artistic category of the Attitude Awards.

A teenage Kapiti dancer thriving despite the challenges of Asperger's Syndrome is among a small field of national finalists in the Attitude Awards.

The awards celebrate New Zealanders with a disability who are achieving excellence in their fields, and Salem Foxx, 14, has been named in the Artistic Achievement category.

"It's really exciting, and the recognition is good," he said.

Salem lives and breathes dance, especially ballet, and practices for two hours, six days a week, including weekly private classes with celebrated Royal New Zealand Ballet veterans Jon and Jacqui Trimmer.

"It is my life. I want people to know that boys dance too," he said.

Salem's mother Michelle Foxx said having Asperger's Syndrome meant Salem faced challenges communicating, and sometimes his enthusiasm had been misread for "naughtiness", so he was now home schooled.

As a toddler, he would communicate by hitting and screaming, but from an early age he made it clear he wanted to dance, she said.

"When I was really little my older brother did dance classes and I just wanted to get up and go into class and so as soon as I was old enough I did," Salem said.

"It was a mission to keep him off the dance floor," Michelle Foxx said.

"Often we would have to leave the studio, and it's been all go ever since."

"He loves it; it's his passion, it's what he loves doing, and why not have that as his profession, and if he can he'll be a good role model to others, to show that it's not a girly thing."

Earlier this year Salem was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance junior associate programme in contemporary dance.

He was one of only three young dancers chosen for the development programme from throughout New Zealand.

He has also collected a haul of top prizes from dance competitions, and top exam results, and performed in four Royal New Zealand Ballet productions.

Salem had also become a role model for many others through social media, which connected him to other ballet enthusiasts worldwide, Michelle Foxx said.

His blog balletboynz had about 18,000 readers, he has about 3.5 million connections on Google Plus, and 47 YouTube dance videos loaded, she said.

"Lots of young boys see it, and they are inspired to keep on dancing, even if it's other types of dance, and kids actually try to copy his dances."

Salem's blog has also been included as resource material for dancers at the London Boys Ballet School.

This year Salem had also been named as a provisional finalist in the senior Creative Achievement and Innovation Award in the Pride Awards, and for the last three years had received a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship, which allowed him to fund his lessons and competitions.

He has also entered the AMP Do Your Own Thing People's Choice Scholarship, which is decided by public votes.

To vote for him, visit Support Salem Foxx on Facebook, by October 13.

Videos of all the Attitude Award finalists will be screened on TVOne at 8.30am on October 26, and the final category winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony in Auckland, on December 3.

KAROLINE TUCKEY

- Kapiti Observer

"Stage goal realised for Salem"- The Kapiti Observer

 Stage goal realised for Salem    6th August 2012

TALIA CARLISLE

Standing tall: Kapiti dancer Salem Foxx, 12, waits backstage with Dan Cockerill, 11, in mirror, ready for the dress rehearsal of Cinderella at Wellington's St James Theatre.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet season of Cinderella opened in Wellington last week featuring Kapiti ballet dancer Salem Foxx.

Salem, 12, is one of five children in the production, and plays a page boy who hands out oranges to guests at the royal ball.

Although there is no dancing in the role, Salem loves being on stage and hopes to join the RNZB one day.

"I like the dressing up and I also like just the feeling on stage," he said.

"I just loved it all. The costumes are just so amazing. I also love being with the dancers, its a nice feeling and I feel special."

Cinderella is on from August 2 to 5 and 8 to 11 at St James Theatre. Tickets range from $25 to $98 and are available from ticketek.co.nz.

                                                                   - The Kapiti Observer

Full Dress Rehearsal

Ballet Diaries - Cinderella
By Salem
Full Dress Rehearsal  1st August 2012
Tonight was the full dress rehearsal.  This was the big final rehearsal before Opening Night tomorrow.  The theatre is full of people so we are actually rehearsing with a full audience.
Mum got me ready with my make-up before we arrived, she did it down in the Jimmy Restaurant/Cafe downstairs at the St James.  No one noticed us doing it.
We went up to the dressing room and my hat had been moved.  I got into my costume and it looked so cool.  After I was all organised, Mum went out to go into the theatre so she could watch the show.

Daniel kept on talking while we were waiting and he had to go back downstairs because he forgot to sign in.
Just after that, Talia, the reporter from The Kapiti Observer arrived with a photographer and Andrea, the publicity person for the Royal New Zealand Ballet.  Talia asked me lots of questions.  Daniel had to wait over by the corner of the dressing room while I was being interviewed but came and had some photos taken with me.
Later one of the male dancers took us down to the auditorium so that we could watch the rest of the first act.  I loved watching the ballet!!!!!!!
we were taken back to the dressing room at interval time and we had to put buckles on our shoes.
we waited around in the dressing room until we were taken backstage ready for our turn.
There was a photographer backstage taking photos of the dancers, me included.

I walked on stage pulling my cart behind me.  I felt really excited and happy.  I handed out my oranges and the stage lights were so bright that I could not see any of the audience.
It was so much fun but it didn't last long enough.  Backstage the dancers said "good job".
We went back to the dressing rooms and quickly got changed.  I had a peek at the other side of the dressing room, there was a wall between our part and some of the other dancers, and had a look at all the costumes.  It was amazing!!!!  It looked like a jungle of costumes, suitcases and make-up.
I headed off down stairs and waited with Lindsay, the theatre door man, until Mum picked me up so I could watch the last act with Mum in the audience.  Lindsay let us go in the back entrance into the St James.  We sat with Byron and his mum.
It was a great show!!!!!!

Men in Tutus

Beefy ballerinas tour

TALIA CARLISLE

 Sequined success: Lead dancer Victor Trevino has stage presence in the new production of Men in Tutus, on at Southward Car Museum on July 25. 

Southwards Car Museum will be home to tutus, frills and a fun night out when parody ballet Men in Tutus hits town.

The New York-based ballet company Les Ballets Eloelle brought the production to New Zealand in 2007 during their Australasian tour, but will perform at Southwards Theatre for the first time in July.

Men in Tutus features 20 male dancers performing parodies of classical and modern ballets including Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and Harlequinade.

Artistic director and lead dancer Victor Trevino said people often have the idea that ballets are complicated and hard to keep up with.

"Being able to come in and laugh for a while, and just to see people do something fun that's easy to understand and high energy, I think people respond to that," he said.

Trevino started learning ballet in his early 20s, dancing with the Florida Ballet.

After a few years he auditioned for the New York- based all-male ballet company, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, known for their parodies of Russia's prima ballerinas.

Wanting to do more modern ballets, after nine years Trevino left the "Trocks" to form his own all-male ballet company, Les Ballets Grandiva.

He had planned to retire after their successful 2007 Australasia tour, but was roped back into his tutu by Australian producer Mark Rafter, who suggested the troupe do another show.

"Some days when we're really exhausted, I think 'What have I done? What have I got myself into?'," he said.

"But when I'm in front of an audience and they're laughing and applauding, of course it makes it worthwhile."

The company includes professional dancers from top ballet companies around the world, including The American Ballet Theatre, New York Ballet, Royal Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet and Berlin State Opera Ballet.

"It's not quite as beautiful as what you would see a regular ballerina do, but we're still dancing en pointe and doing some incredible things," he said.

"Sometimes we get people in the audience who are just howling with laughter and that really helps us do our job and have a good time."

After the 25-week tour Trevino said they will look at continuing the tour to Japan and Malaysia.

Set to perform 110 shows on their current tour, Trevino was expecting "a slightly easier run, but hopefully we'll survive it all."

- Men in Tutus, July 25, 8pm, Southward Car Museum. 

                                           The Kapiti Observer

Last Wednesday night we went we to see Men in Tutus at Southwards with Grandma.  It was Salem's birthday present.

We got there nice and early and Salem managed to get a few autographs but silly me, I forgot to take my camera with me so missed out on a great photo opportunity. 

They put on a wonderful show, what wonderful dancers and oh so funny.  Salem could not stop laughing.  "They do Swan Lake how it should be done." 

I hope they tour New Zealand again in the future.  Salem managed to get a couple of feathers from the Dying Swan as souveniers.  The Dying Swan was great, feathers were going everywhere, the whole stage was covered.

Kapiti Dance Festival and Practices are going well

Salem had  rehearsals for his group contemporary dance yesterday at Kapiti Dance Centre.  I think having a break from his usual dance practice did him good as he had a really good practice today and is feeling very confident.  And having cake and a cup of tea at Over the Tea Cups tea shop is always good for the soul.  He did everything perfectly, got all the timing sorted and smiled the whole time.
Roll on the comps!!!!

Record field for dance festival

TALIA CARLISLE

A record number of dancers will perform this weekend for the 27th annual Dance Kapiti festival at Southward Theatre.

Colourful costumes and tutus will feature throughout the four-day festival starting on Saturday.

A record 722 items will be performed, featuring 145 individual dancers as well as groups.

Dancers will represent Judith Fuge Dance School, Kapiti Dance Centre and Praiz Studios in Kapiti, as well as studios from Wellington, Napier, Hastings, Hawera and Palmerston North.

Students will showcase a range of dance styles over four days, including ballet, lyrical, character, contemporary, jazz and hip-hop.

Kapiti Ballet Society spokeswoman Valerie Andrews said the festival was a great way to while away a couple of hours while watching a high standard of performers.

A highlight of the festival will be on Sunday evening where the top dancers will compete for a place in the National Young Performer Awards to be held in Invercargill in October.

The public are invited to attend the festival, with events running from 8.30am till 9pm over the four days, excluding breaks.

- Entrance by donation.

- Kapiti Observer

In the Kapiti Observer Today

Success for Salem

TALIA CARLISLE

  Splitting image: Paraparaumu's Salem Foxx, 12, has not let  Asperger's
Syndrome get in the way of his love for dancing.

Paraparaumu 12-year-old Salem Foxx has won a $5000 scholarship as he prepares to perform with the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

The youngster was asked to play a minor role in Cinderella, opening at Wellington's St James Theatre on August 3.

Salem performed with the RNZB in its production of Sleeping Beauty last year, and in The Nutcracker in 2010.

Dancing since he was a toddler, he started by copying his older brother Daemon, who was taking jazz and ballet lessons at the time.

His mother, Michelle Foxx, said it was hard to stop him from interrupting Daemon's classes.

"I had to [have] him strapped down in his pushchair because he just wanted to get up there and join in," she said.

Salem hopes to become a member of the RNZB and travel the world like his "pal" Sir Jon Trimmer, who he got to know while working in Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.

Variety supported 21 New Zealand children with $5000 scholarships this year, including artists, dancers and sports stars who are physically or financially challenged.

Salem has Asperger's syndrome, although he regularly achieves merit or distinction in his ballet exams.

He is also a science star and has completed National Certificate of Educational Achievement level one papers while being home-schooled by his mother. Salem enjoys reading and comic books, but his main passion is ballet.

"I just love to be on stage. I like the steps and I guess it just feels good."

- Kapiti Observer

Oh So Busy

Russian Winter - Kapiti Comps 2010

Hello everyone

Salem has had a very busy month doing his normal dance lessons and private lessons to get ready for the Kapiti Dance Competitions this coming weekend.

He has been practicing lots and will be dancing two solos and one group dance.  He is a bit nervous about this as this will be the first time he will be performing solo.  He has had a cold so I made him rest all weekend.  It's back to rehearsing again today.

He has been a very lucky boy and was given a free two month membership to one of our local gyms, City Fitness Paraparaumu, so he can use one of their large mirrored dance rooms for practicing his dance routines and to also use the equipment to work on his balance and strength which is essential for a ballet dancer.
So a big Thank you to Danny and everyone at City Fitness Paraparaumu.

Salem was interviewed by a reporter for one of our local papers, The Kapiti Observer on Friday so will be in the paper this week.

More good news for Salem, he was asked to be in the Royal New Zealand Ballet's "Cinderella" so will be starting rehearsals in Wellington on the 17th July.  He is very excited about that.

That is all for now, I will post his approx dance times for the Kapiti Comps later today.