Welders's son from Mumbai accepted into world-leading ballet school in New York
Indian teenager Amir Shah is raising funds to come to America
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In the words of his ballet teacher, Yehuda Maor, there is something very special about teenager Amir Shah.
The Mumbai youngster was pouring all his energy into dancing hip hop, when Maor, a ballet master, asked him to join his ballet class. “I don’t know how the ballet theory got into this kid's body,” said the Israeli American teacher. “And he knew everything. He learned the language very naturally.”
Two years later, the 15-year-old is at the threshold of something rather amazing. The welder’s son has received a rare invitation to study at one of the world’s leading ballet schools, located in New York - if he can raise the funds for his air travel, visa and lodgings.
“I sometimes think if I didn't have ballet, I would not have anything,” the teenager says in a video posted on a GoFundMe page. “I didn’t know ballet could take me so far. I didn’t realise I could become a ballet dancer.”
The teenager has received an invitation from the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York City. Among the ABT’s principal dancers are Misty Copeland, Stella Abrera and Marcello Gomes.
A spokeswoman, Kelly Ryan, told The Independent that the teenager had been accepted for the year course after auditioning by video. "We're expecting him to start this [autumn]," she said.
It was not the first time, the teenager had been invited to study in the US. Previously he received invitations from the Joffrey Ballet School in New York and the Oregon Ballet Theatre school. But he was unable to take up the offers become of visa issues.
Amir, whose story was reported by The Better India, is now trying to raise $15,000 for the trip to America. Most recently, the total stood at $2,218.
The teenager said his hero was Danil Simkin, a Russian-born principal dancer with the ABT. “I really hope I can become a principal dancer,” he said. “I will keep pushing until I get there.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments