Society’s production of Aladdin. Despite only having a minor part, Cheryl saw her participation as a way to shine in front of an audience, which she relished. It may have been a far cry from London’s West End, but the Whitley Bay Pantomime Society provided yet another opportunity for her to dazzle in front of an audience.
Impressed by Cheryl’s stage presence and technical ability, Margaret suggested that perhaps her little nine-year-old protégéought to try for a place at the Royal Ballet’s Summer School in London. Cheryl’s eyes lit up immediately she heard this. The chance to go and study at the Royal Ballet in London? She just couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Not only would this mean that she would be training with professional dancers who had performed in many world-famous productions, but she would also get the chance to see another part of the world other than her beloved Newcastle. The process wasn’t easy: Cheryl had to take on five thousand other young, excited hopefuls. Luckily for her, however, the gods were on her side, and she made it through to the final selection with ease. She and her mum could not contain their excitement. Cheryl was going to London to dance with the Royal Ballet!
This was amazing news for the Tweedy family. After all, this kind of thing didn’t happen to people like them. Dad Garry was a painter and decorator, while Mum was a housewife, and with five kids they sometimes struggled to make ends meet. One of their children dancing with the Royal Ballet seemed like a plot lifted straight out of a film. But this was real. The Royal Ballet had decided that Cheryl was good enough to travel to London to be taken under their wing and perhaps to become a star of the future.
Although she was used to winning ‘Bonnie Baby’ competitions and landing roles in adverts during her early years, Cheryl was convinced now that her life was about to turn a corner. If she did well during the fortnight-long Summer School there was every possibility that Cheryl would be asked to attend the Royal Ballet School full time. She knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and there was no way she was going to let it slip through her fingers.
What she hadn’t realized, however, was the fact that, despite winning a place on the course, her parents were going to have to shell out £300 for the privilege. It was the early nineties, and the family were finding life relatively hard financially. While they were living a fairly comfortable life, having to spend such a large sum of money left Joan and Garry feeling anxious. There was just no way they could raise the cash for the course in time, but they both knew that there was no way in the world they could deny their eager young daughter the chance to fulfil her dream of dancing. So Cheryl’s mum and dad made the tough decision to ask around for help. Although they were a proud couple who didn’t believe in handouts, they knew that if their little girl was to be able to take advantage of this rare opportunity, they would have to try anything they could to make it happen.
And so Garry and Joan launched a fundraising campaign in their local area. As luck would have it, a sponsor came forward with the money. Cheryl and her family couldn’t hide their joy and Cheryl was keen to thank the kind Samaritan. ‘I want to thank them so much,’ she told the Evening Chronicle at the time. ‘I promise I will do my best.’ Giddy with delight, her mum was just as pleased, as it meant that her daughter was finally going to be doing something she loved: ‘It’s fantastic that she’s going to ballet school,’ Joan said at the time to the Chronicle. ‘It would have broken Cheryl’s heart if she had missed out.’
At last, Cheryl was all set to conquer the world of ballet. Travelling down south was an exciting experience for the young Geordie lass. In her mind, London was the city she’d heard described by her elders; the place where the streets
Impressed by Cheryl’s stage presence and technical ability, Margaret suggested that perhaps her little nine-year-old protégéought to try for a place at the Royal Ballet’s Summer School in London. Cheryl’s eyes lit up immediately she heard this. The chance to go and study at the Royal Ballet in London? She just couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Not only would this mean that she would be training with professional dancers who had performed in many world-famous productions, but she would also get the chance to see another part of the world other than her beloved Newcastle. The process wasn’t easy: Cheryl had to take on five thousand other young, excited hopefuls. Luckily for her, however, the gods were on her side, and she made it through to the final selection with ease. She and her mum could not contain their excitement. Cheryl was going to London to dance with the Royal Ballet!
This was amazing news for the Tweedy family. After all, this kind of thing didn’t happen to people like them. Dad Garry was a painter and decorator, while Mum was a housewife, and with five kids they sometimes struggled to make ends meet. One of their children dancing with the Royal Ballet seemed like a plot lifted straight out of a film. But this was real. The Royal Ballet had decided that Cheryl was good enough to travel to London to be taken under their wing and perhaps to become a star of the future.
Although she was used to winning ‘Bonnie Baby’ competitions and landing roles in adverts during her early years, Cheryl was convinced now that her life was about to turn a corner. If she did well during the fortnight-long Summer School there was every possibility that Cheryl would be asked to attend the Royal Ballet School full time. She knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and there was no way she was going to let it slip through her fingers.
What she hadn’t realized, however, was the fact that, despite winning a place on the course, her parents were going to have to shell out £300 for the privilege. It was the early nineties, and the family were finding life relatively hard financially. While they were living a fairly comfortable life, having to spend such a large sum of money left Joan and Garry feeling anxious. There was just no way they could raise the cash for the course in time, but they both knew that there was no way in the world they could deny their eager young daughter the chance to fulfil her dream of dancing. So Cheryl’s mum and dad made the tough decision to ask around for help. Although they were a proud couple who didn’t believe in handouts, they knew that if their little girl was to be able to take advantage of this rare opportunity, they would have to try anything they could to make it happen.
And so Garry and Joan launched a fundraising campaign in their local area. As luck would have it, a sponsor came forward with the money. Cheryl and her family couldn’t hide their joy and Cheryl was keen to thank the kind Samaritan. ‘I want to thank them so much,’ she told the Evening Chronicle at the time. ‘I promise I will do my best.’ Giddy with delight, her mum was just as pleased, as it meant that her daughter was finally going to be doing something she loved: ‘It’s fantastic that she’s going to ballet school,’ Joan said at the time to the Chronicle. ‘It would have broken Cheryl’s heart if she had missed out.’
At last, Cheryl was all set to conquer the world of ballet. Travelling down south was an exciting experience for the young Geordie lass. In her mind, London was the city she’d heard described by her elders; the place where the streets
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