Taylor’s Theatre Academy student's chance to fulfil her dream

She said: “I do ballet, tap, jazz, street dance, contemporary and others.

“I do circus and aerial arts. And I have recently trained in fire sticks.” 

The daughter of Julie Taylor, director of Taylor’s Theatre Academy in Tonge Moor, dancing is in her blood.

She said: “I started when I was five. About two years later, my mother and aunt [Stacy Taylor] opened Taylor’s Theatre Academy.”

She said: “From then on, I was dancing seven days a week and doing shows all year round.

“Dancing is like home to me. Any time I feel down, I do it. I don’t know what I’d do without it.”

Isabella Taylor-Whitehead. Image Henry Lisowski She entered the college her mother and aunt founded, Taylor’s Theatre College, studying a BTEC level 3 in performing arts.

She said: “I went for a year, but our course got cancelled by its providers.”

"Isabella found herself with “nowhere to go for college or dance training”.

Left without options other than homeschooling, she took a chance on a dream.

She applied to Phil Winston's Theatreworks, a prestigious dance school in Blackpool.

And was accepted.

She said: “It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was absolutely over the moon.

“I’d finally found a place to go.”

Isabella performing aerial arts (Image: Isabella Taylor-Whitehead)

Except the school’s three-year music, theatre and dance programme was fee-paying, £6,600 a year.

She said: “It’s an amazing dance college with loads of opportunities.

“But my family just could not afford that.”

She said: “A prestigious college like this understandably would cost a lot.

"And I’m not eligible for funding until next year.

“But, to gain this type of training at my age is too good to miss out on.” 

Her mother Julie was touched by her daughter’s passion for dance.

Julie said: “Dance is something my sister and I have trained all our lives to do since we were three.

“And Isabella’s followed in our footsteps. I feel emotional about it.”

Her aunt Stacy Taylor, principal of Taylor’s Theatre Academy, has seen the fruits of Isabella’s hard work and couldn’t be prouder.

Stacy said: “We’re over the moon. She trains hard and she’s done amazing.

“She’s got a lot of presence and shines when she’s on stage.

“I think she has a lot to offer.”

Isabella dreams of one day travelling the world on a cruise ship as a professional dancer.

And Phil Winston's Theatreworks can help her achieve it.

Isabella Taylor-Whitehead (Image: Isabella Taylor-Whitehead)

Christopher Winston, company director of Phil Winston's Theatreworks, said: “Previous students have gone on to Broadway, The West End, Hamilton and cruise ships around the world.

“Our main aim is to get students into the performing arts.

“There are a lot of advantages to coming here as opposed to the big London colleges. We are small but mighty.”

Isabella’s dream future is close but not quite there yet, and she set up a GoFundMe for help.

She said: “People have been donating and I have £400 so far.

“It’s nowhere near but it’s something.”

To donate to Isabella’s GoFundMe, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/izzis-dream-to-train-as-a-professional-dancer