Eight-year-old ballerina Sage Jane is striving to get to Johannesburg to participate in the National Ballet Championship, but her family lacks the funds for the trip.
Sage Fate Jane has already gone through a difficult journey: she trained, participated in competitions, and earned the right to perform at the Dance Waves National Championship. Now, between the young resident of Mitchells Plain and the opportunity to take the national stage in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, on September 19th, lies an amount of R15,000.
Sage, a second-grade student at Westville Primary School, is one of the young dancers from First Step Dance School in Westridge who qualified after the school won two gold and one silver medal at the regional level. For Sage, who has been dancing ballet for just over two years, winning a gold medal brought a storm of emotions.
She shared her feelings: 'I was very overwhelmed, happy, and very excited to learn that all the days I practiced mattered, and that people liked it very much.' She added: 'I felt so many mixed emotions. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew I had to focus and give my absolute best.'
However, for her mother, Anastasia Jane, the excitement quickly turned into the realization of the expenses associated with the trip. Initially, Anastasia told Sage's teacher that they would not be able to go because they could not afford it. But seeing her daughter's reaction, Anastasia decided that she needed to make more effort.
She started holding raffles, selling snacks, and organizing charity events with the family, but the collected money is still not enough. The family now needs about R15,000 to cover travel, accommodation, transport to the theater, costumes, and registration fees for Sage and her mother.
Anastasia shared that she had to 'put her shyness aside' and ask for help in the hope that someone would help make her daughter's dream come true. She emphasized: 'As parents, we are willing to sacrifice everything we have for this to happen.' She added that it would be upsetting if the child couldn't attend, knowing that she had put in all the effort to reach the national level.
Behind Sage's excitement is a daily routine packed with school, homework, and ballet classes. 'The hardest part is practicing in the evening. I come home from school, eat, rush to finish my homework, and then my mom picks me up,' said Sage. 'There is no time to rest. Sometimes I told my mom I didn't want to do ballet anymore because I was tired.'
Nevertheless, her parents continue to encourage her to stay true to her passion. Sage noted: 'My mom and dad motivate me so much and tell me that nothing comes easily, and at some point in life we have to sacrifice for things we love to do.'
The teacher at First Step Dance School, Deneka 'Danny' McMaster, noted that fundraising has become one of the biggest obstacles for some dancers who have already earned their spots at the national level. McMaster stated: 'Charity drives are not enough. All my girls did great, and it's a shame that some of them might not be able to go because of financial problems.' He continued: 'Children put in a lot of effort, and then this struggle arises. I think it's good when parents say they need help and what they lack to help their children reach the national stage.'
For Anastasia, asking for help means giving Sage the opportunity to complete what she started. Sage's father missed her previous competition because the venue was too far away, and photography and videography inside the theater were prohibited. Anastasia shared: 'You can imagine the sad feeling of knowing she was shining on stage, and her dad missed it. It is heartbreaking.'
This time, Sage's teacher offered to accompany some dancers whose parents cannot afford the trip, but Anastasia feels it is difficult to send her eight-year-old daughter so far from home without her. 'My heart is not ready to send my child so far alone,' she said. Sage has dreams that extend far beyond September 19th, including performing someday on the Juilliard stage in New York. However, her main goal right now is to get to Johannesburg.
'I will be proud of myself because I know about the sacrifices we made as a class, myself, and my parents,' concluded Sage. 'I want to keep making everyone happy. It makes my heart happy.'
Anyone wishing to help Sage and her family can contact Anastasia Jane at +27 74 468 1418.



