12:21PM, Sat Sep 1, 2012

Real Life Billy Elliot Needs £20k Sponsorship For New York Dance School

By Andy Hughes Location: Dance City, Newcastle

Video: Meet the real life Billy Elliot

Promising dancer Eliot Smith needs to raise £20,000 in four months to allow him to take his place at one of the world’s most prestigious dance schools.

The 21-year-old, from Heaton, Newcastle, has been offered a scholarship place at the Martha Graham School of Dance in New York.

He was told he needed to raise £30,000 sponsorship money to cover fees and living costs. Eliot has already raised £10,000 in three weeks and is looking for others to help make his dream come true.

He said: "This means everything for me. If I can raise £20,000 then this will allow me to go to the most prestigious dance school in the world.

"It’s too good an opportunity to miss."

The performer, who runs his own dance company, the Eliot Smith Company, and began his career at Newcastle’s Dance City, has just finished a four-year course at the London School for Contemporary Dance.