Acrobatic feats in China

Acrobatic Feats In China

Project 2013-06-06 02:24:35 +1200

UPDATE!

Wow I cannot believe I have reached $5000 in 6 days! HUGE thanks to everyone who have pledged so far and to those reading this now you can still help me! 

Due to the current exchange rate the money already pledged is not quite enough to cover my school fees and living for the next 6 months, So if you can find it in your heart/pocket to help me out a wee bit so I can continue training towards my goals I would appreciate it enormously!

Sending love from China,

Emma xx

Check out my story HERE on TVNZ's Seven Sharp!!

http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp/joining-circus-in-china-video-5467943

I am a Kiwi girl who has followed my dreams of becoming a world class Circus Performer all the way to the small farming town of Wuqiao in the Hebei province of China.

I have spent the past 14 months training Acrobatics at two of China's most prestigious Arts schools, The past 6 months I have been at the Wuqiao Acrobatic Art School training alongside young Chinese children 8hrs a day 6 days a week. Most of my time here I have been the only foreigner in the entire county of 280,000 people completely immersed in Chinese culture, language and no English!

Each day I train Foot Juggling multiple Chinese umbrellas, spinning carpets and my new favourite a solid wooden table, also contortion, aerial hoop and dance. I am New Zealand's first and only foot juggler and hope that when I finish my training here in Wuqiao that I will have the skills, performance ability and discipline required to make it as a Kiwi on the international stage.

Although following your dreams comes at quite a cost... I have self funded my project so far costing close to $20,000 and I have now made the decision to extend my stay here by another 6 months. I spend what little spare time I have applying for sponsorship, grants, getting my story out in the global media and taking every performance opportunity I have to raise money.  

I am now looking for support from Kiwis back home and abroad to lend a helping hand to a lone Kiwi on the other side of the world. The money I am aiming to raise would cover majority of my school fees, living costs and equipment fees through to mid December, just in time to return to home for a much anticipated NZ Christmas!

At the end of the day it will not be a lack of talent,
determination or sacrifice that prevents me from becoming a world class New Zealand
performer…it will be a lack of funding. 

I am very serious about my training and my goals and even though it is an incredibly challenging and lonely road I am on at the moment I know that if I work hard and stay inspired I will be able to travel and create beautiful performances and become an International Artist all New Zealanders would be proud of.

Check out my recent articles in the global media:

- Article in ‘Kea-New Zealand’s Global network’ online newsletter, March. Link: (http://www.keanewzealand.com/china/news/emma-phillips-achieving-her-goal-wuqiao-acrobatics-school-hebei-china)

-Article in Shanghai daily, March http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/Feature/2013/04/17/Expats%2Bgrapple%2Bwith%2BChinese%2Bcircus%2Barts%2Bwrestling/

If I can get my story out to enough people it may just reach the right ones.

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