Latest Wishes - “I danced with The Royal Ballet”

11 year old Tegan has always wanted to be a ballet star, despite her serious illness. Read on to find out more about Tegan’s magical evening with the Royal Ballet – in her own words...

I have been dancing since I was three years old. I love ballet and go to ballet lessons every week at my local dance centre. My ballet teacher is brilliant and so I always try to go to every class. The only thing that has ever made me miss a class is my illness.

Since I was born I have lived with Hyperinsulinemia and Hypoglycemia – which are like diabetes because they affect the level of sugar in your blood. Because I have low blood sugar, I have to eat lots of sweet things, which is not as great as it sounds because I’m not that fussed about chocolate. Also, it can be quite dangerous, because if my blood sugar levels get too low I can have a seizure. When I was little it was really bad. I used to have fits quite a lot, where my body would go all shaky and wobbly. It’s also quite embarrassing because my illness makes my arms and legs quite hairy.

Just over a year ago I had a visit from a charity called Make-A-Wish Foundation that grants magical wishes to young people with illnesses like me. I told them my wish would be to see The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House. I was so excited when earlier this month I discovered that my wish would be granted.

Make-A-Wish treated my mum, my grandma and me to a five star hotel in London. I was gobsmacked when the doorman opened the door for me but having a limousine pick me up from the hotel in the morning really made me feel like a VIP – especially as the limo was really big with iced cokes inside.

When we got to the Royal Opera House I was escorted to my very own dressing room with a laminated sign on the door saying: ‘The Royal Ballet, Tales of Beatrix Potter – Miss Jones.’ Then we were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the venue by our chaperone, Royal Ballet dancer David Pickering, which included a peek at costumes and ‘heads’ from the Tales of Beatrix Potter. David was so kind because he had given up all his practice time to show us around. On our tour we saw a set being made and watched the ballet dancers rehearse, which was amazing, because they don’t usually let anyone see that.

I was then given a Beatrix Potter mouse costume to try on in the Wardrobe Department and told I would be able to wear it later.

At dinner with the dancers, I was introduced to Mara Galeazzi, one of the Principal Royal Ballet dancers and Dame Monica Mason, the Director of The Royal Ballet – who I was really surprised to meet because she’s really important. I also got to say hello to Royal Ballet star Philip Mosley – who the film Billy Elliot was based on in real life!

The best bit of the evening came when we were watching the evening’s performance of the Tales of Beatrix Potter from the wings. I was put in the mouse costume again – ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I WOULD BE ONSTAGE NEXT!

I was so excited, I felt like a star! I wasn’t nervous, because with my mouse head on I couldn’t really see the crowd. Assistant Ballet Mistress Sian Murphy, who was also playing a mouse, led me on stage and held my hand as we danced around.

The final bow was amazing, only I curtseyed when you’re supposed to bow. When I got off stage everyone came up and said I was a natural. My mum was nearly in tears because she was so happy.

All the dancers at The Royal Ballet were so kind. Two dancers gave me a massive bunch of flowers. I was also given a T-shirt, two pairs of signed ballet shoes and a bag full of Beatrix Potter goodies.

I’m really grateful to The Royal Ballet, Make-A-Wish and my mum – everyone must have gone through a lot to do it for me. I couldn’t have wished for more!

I don’t know whether I’ll ever get to dance with The Royal Ballet again but I hope that I can dance on a stage in the future. I never ever want to give up dancing.

In 2010, around 1,000 children will turn to Make-A-Wish to have their special wish granted. We need to raise £5 million this year in order to continue granting these magical wishes. Please help us to grant more magical wishes by making a donation today