Dancer of the Month January & February

Jessica Blake

Hello, my name is Jessica Blake and I am 15 years old. I have been attending Allesley School of Dance since I was 4 and I've enjoyed every minute! I take part in Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre, and Jazz, and I feel privileged to go to a school full of such talented people!

One of my first memories at Allesley has to be when I made my debut in the 1995 Showcase as a ‘skipping Minnie' in, one of the classics, ‘Mickey-Mouse'. It was really exciting! In the same year I was selected to demonstrate the new BBO syllabus to lots of teachers from abroad...

Demonstrating the new syllabus for BBO Ballet Pre-Primary, 1997

During the next couple of years I was chosen to be one of the pupils lucky enough to demonstrate pre-primary and primary for a video the BBO were making.

I was also filmed demonstrating the Grade 1 and 2, along with some of my friends, including Amy Young (dancer of the month - January, February). These experiences were very rewarding and I'll never forget them.

As a young ballerina!!!!

When I was 10 I became a Junior British Ballet Scholar, which involved going to London once a month for a ballet lesson taught by a professional dancer. I enjoyed this very much, but soon my life got a lot busier so I ended my scholarship. During my time as a scholar, I attended Concourse in Leeds . This was amazing and I was so shocked when I was awarded ‘Best Junior Tap'.

I have been in a lot of festivals, competing in mainly troupes but I have also been in a duet and a trio.

I have also been in four Showcases (1995-2003). I feel like I have been everything from a monkey, to a Painted Doll, to Mr. Potato-Head, to La-la from the teletubbies! I think performing in these has been the best part! They're really fun.

I hope to continue my dancing for as long as I can however I don't think it will be my career.

At 8 months old, little did I know how important the piano would be to me, later on in my life.

I go to Bablake School . It's a really good school but this year I am just starting my GCSE year which is already very stressful! I am taking 11 GCSEs and I enjoy them all from the languages to Religious Studies, to Music and DT!

Before I passed the exam for the senior school, I went to the Junior School . In my last year I was made Head Girl. I also played for the school's golf team and was privileged to play in many competitions on some great courses, including Lytham St. Anne's, Short Course. Here I came runner-up for ‘Mixed Under 11s'.

In my free time, I like to write my own songs with music on the piano and at the moment I have completed about 20. My aim is to, one day, hear someone with an amazing voice sing them, as I am not confident enough to sing them myself! Lizzie's Musical Theatre classes are helping a lot however, thanks!

I am also learning to play the oboe, and have recently passed my Grade 3 exam. A couple of years ago I passed my Grade 2 piano exam but I do not have lessons anymore. My other hobbies are shopping and going to the cinema, just like most girls, however I am also a keen rugby fan.

I have two dogs, Alfie and Jester. They are both Shetland Sheepdogs and just over 2 years old.

My two dogs, Jester (left) and Alfie (right)

I have been very lucky to travel abroad to lots of wonderful places, such as the Caribbean, Australia , Thailand , Mauritius , and Dubai , and South Africa . I learnt to scuba dive in Mauritius and it is absolutely fantastic!

Off to do my first dive - very nervous!!

I also love to go skiing, and I've been to the Alps many times. I learnt to ski at a very young age - I think I was about 3 when I first tried it! When I was 6 I went to Salzburg and saw where the ‘Sound of Music' was filmed, which was like my dream come true! I have also visited Lapland for a day, where I met Santa and his elves. Most recently I have been to Egypt , where I saw many temples, pyramids and cruised down the Nile .

With my Mum and Dad, In front of one of the first pyramids ever!!!

I would like to say a big thank you to all the teachers at Allesley, especially Mrs Pughe for sharing her knowledge with me and for her endless support and encouragement (and congratulations on 50 years of teaching!), and also to all the students at Allesley, for just being so lovely and always making me smile!!!!!!

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