Hi, I’m Portia Blair, I’m 15 years old and attend Otago Girls High School in Dunedin. I started dancing when I was 4 years old and have continued to dance ever since then.  

I have been nominated for the National Young Performer of the Year Awards in Palmerston North in October this year!

It has always been my dream to compete at these awards, however, I am unable to compete unless I am able to raise the necessary funds in order to get me there. I come from a single parent family which means that it is very difficult for me to raise these funds alone. I wondered if you might be happy to support me on my journey to fulfilling this dream!

I have been nominated to dance as a soloist and as part of a group of 5 dancers. My group is the only group from Otago to be nominated. I had to undergo a rigorous selection process, performing to specific standards in order to get nominated. Our group performed a Contemporary Dance piece called “It’s not OK” which depicts the real struggle faced by teenagers every day who are controlled by a partner through social media and online “monitoring”. This is clearly a very real situation and one of which I have been personally involved in. My dance teacher said that my story was the inspiration for the piece. The local Police Youth Aid Officer in my area is very interested in seeing the dance with the intention that it may be used as a learning tool in schools. He hopes that the art form of dance may reach a further audience.

It would mean so much to me if I was able to travel to Palmerston North to compete in these awards!

Any support that you could give me would be greatly appreciated!