Ballet star donates signed shoes to Dagenham dancer, 10, after reading Post People
The Royal Ballet's principal dancer Steven McRae autographed a pair of his dance shoes for young fan Amaan. - Credit: Archant
An aspiring ballet dancer was given the surprise of his life when he received a pair of signed ballet shoes from one of the world’s leading performers.
Steven McRae as Prince Florimund in The Royal Ballet production of The Sleeping Beauty. - Credit: Johan Persson / Royal Opera House / ArenaPAL
In a Post People feature last month, 10-year-old dancer Amaan Rashid, from Dagenham, explained how he was inspired by Steven McCrae, principal dancer with The Royal Ballet.
The Royal Ballet's principal dancer Steven McRae autographed a pair of his dance shoes for young fan Amaan. - Credit: Archant
Steven saw the article, and was so touched by the words he contacted the Post directly, offering to send Amaan a signed pair of shoes identical to the ones he wore in the recent run of Sleeping Beauty.
Ballet dancer Amaan Rashid on the bar - Credit: Archant
Amaan was invited to the Post’s office to collect the package on Friday, unaware of the contents.
He said: “I’d like to thank Steven so much because it really means so much. It’s really motivated me to work harder.
“I’m going to put them in the centre of my glass cabinet alongside my other trophies.”
After telling the news to his teachers at Dagenham Park School the next day he was asked to perform in a future assembly, and proud mum Ghazala was equally delighted.
“I was so overwhelmed that Steven would do something so kind like that,” she said. “He’s such an inspiration for Amaan and other young dancers.”
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Steven said: “I was really honoured that I had inspired someone from the next generation. It’s great that Amaan has a passion for dance at such a young age.
“He is a great role model for other young boys by showing them how to chase their dreams.”
Amaan, a mid-associate of the Royal Ballet School, recently shared the stage with Steven in Sleeping Beauty, playing a fairy page, a mandolin boy and a monkey in 10 of the 20 performances.
Steven also had these words for Amaan: “The dance world has transformed my life, but it hasn’t come easy as you have to dedicate your life to it.
“However, the freedom that you feel now when you’re dancing is something I still feel today when I step on stage.
“This feeling is why I still dance today and I hope you will get to experience this in the future.”
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