Students and parents from Ballarat’s Dance School of Distinction have banded together to support a sister institute in East Timor.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Families have have contributed a huge number of clothes to the Dili Wellness Centre after a relatives of a Ballarat women, who are currently living and training out the Dili hub, alerted DSD members of the need for ballet appropriate clothing.
Margaux Eichler and her daughter initiated the drive back in October by asking parents and students to contribute what they don’t need to a tub located at DSD headquarters.
Ms Eichler said the response has been astounding, with hundreds of soft ballet shoes, leotards, hair bands, hair nets, and hair pins, leggings and tights all gladly contributed to the cause.
Ms Eichler learnt about the school’s plight from her friend Jan King, who is a relative of the family currently residing in Dili.
“Her (Ms King’s) granddaughter has just started ballet (over there) and she was telling me how hard it was for the children financially, and there’s no dance shop over there to buy items from,” Ms Eichler said.
“I thought that the students from our school would have things that they’re not using any more and they’come through and donated lots of ballet shoes, leotards that will be sent over in the next couple of weeks.”
Ms Eichler’s daughter Daisy has also been a major driver of the initiative, which has reached well outside the confines of Ballarat.
“The school put something on Facebook and even people from Echuca and Geelong have donated and sent through,” Ms Eichler said.
“It’s a pretty simple thing that they’re trying to do – every little dancer wants to feel beautiful and some people have even bought new gear to send over because they want them to have the leotards and tights.”
Ms Eichler said she isn’t sure when the clothes will be sent over to the school, but they arrive until the new year.
Dance School of Distinction Ballarat has about 180 students practicing in classical ballet, contemporary and jazz.
Principal Anita Michael said she isn’t surprised to see the school’s families band together for the cause.
“It’s a wonderful idea from Daisy and Margaux. Daisy is a very generous student in many ways and this just backs that up really,” she said.
