The Story behind Cinderella Dance Scholarships
- Angelina Richards
- Dec 28, 2025
- 2 min read
About Cinderella Dance Scholarships
We believe that every talented young dancer deserves the chance to dance, regardless of their circumstances. Founded in October 2006, our unregistered charity was built on a foundation of community, performance, and a shared passion for the arts.
The Story Behind Our Name
Cinderella Dance Scholarships was officially launched through our very first production: Cinderella, performed at the Haverstock School Theatre in December 2006. This was followed by a second successful staging of the same ballet at the Ashcroft Theatre in 2007. We chose the name Cinderella Dance Scholarship because our journey began with seeing the dancers transform on stage and witnessing the pure joy of the performance inspired us to make sure that every talented child gets their chance to experience that same magic through a scholarship.
Turning Performance into Opportunity
Cinderella Dance Scholarships operates as a beautiful cycle of giving. From the very beginning, we have worked closely with Swiss Cottage Dance and Vacani (Clapham) through our connection with former dancer, choreographer, and Ballet School Director Angelina Spurrier. Angelina’s vision has always been to ensure that young dancers don’t just learn in a studio, but get the chance to experience the magic of the stage. This commitment to providing performance opportunities is the heartbeat of our mission to support young talent.
As we honor that history, we are excited to embark on a brand-new chapter. This year, we begin a fresh collaboration with CWS Dance, expanding our community and our reach under Angelina’s continued guidance.
While these shows are financed through participation fees and ticket sales, the goal is to achieve more than just a final curtain call. The participating dance schools decided from the outset that the profits from these productions should be funneled directly back into the dance community.
Our Mission: Supporting the Next Generation
The profits collected by Cinderella Dance Scholarships are used to award scholarships to talented, dedicated children who might otherwise miss out on dance training or specialised courses. We bridge the gap between raw talent, commitment to dance and professional instruction.
Our Impact Over the Years:
Sponsored nine dancers to attend the prestigious Cecchetti Day.
Awarded a major scholarship for a student to attend the renowned Cecchetti Summer School.
From our humble beginnings, including a first performance that required a generous loan from our trustees to cover costume costs, to becoming a self-sustaining source of support, we remain dedicated to ensuring that the "glass slipper" of opportunity fits every deserving dancer.
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