Drama to get to Big Apple

They say if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere, but for a talented Putaruru teenager the real challenge is making it to New York. Through years of determination and hard work, 13-year-old Tegan Totterdell has earned herself a place at a prestigious upstate New York performing arts school for three weeks next month. However, although having a rare blood disorder won’t stop her going to New York, a lack of funding might.

Tegan has the distinction of being the first Kiwi to be invited to attend French Woods, a performing arts summer school in upstate New York, but she needs to find almost $5000 to make the trip happen.

Despite her talent in multiple areas of performing arts, approaches to various funding agencies have proved fruitless.

‘‘I don’t fit the criteria or it is the wrong time of year for applying,’’ Tegan said.

Her family have covered most of her costs by running raffles and selling items on Trade Me, but time is running out and they need help.

Since the age of 3, Tegan has been centre stage in a variety of performances including touring with the Webber Bros Circus for a year at the age of six, being an extra in the Walt Disney film Yogi Bear and, more recently, taking lead roles in Hamilton Operatic Society productions.

This year her performing talent even earned her a partial drama scholarship to attend St Peter’s School, near Cambridge.

And all of this is despite having dyslexia and taking daily medicine for a hereditary blood condition which makes her constantly anaemic and less able to withstand cuts and bumps than others because her blood does not clot well naturally.

‘‘It’s called familial thrombocytopenia,’’ Tegan said. ‘‘I don’t have enough platelets in my blood.’’

Tegan’s mother Willow, who will accompany Tegan overseas to help her manage her condition, said the blood disorder makes Tegan susceptible to getting tired – but she dedicates herself to hours of practices anyway.

‘‘She’s living on her reserve tanks most of the time, Mrs Totterdell said.

‘‘It doesn’t hold her back, she just gets on with it.’’ She is not exaggerating. Tegan’s list of skills on her resume range from acrobatics, including aerial work, to stilt and cable-drum walking, singing, dancing and acting.

If she gets there, her French Woods lessons will include acting, voice training, dance and musical theatre, plus such optional extras as stage combat, fencing, cabaret and mime.

‘‘Probably the thing I’m looking forward to the most is the experience of learning from professional performing artists,’’ Tegan said.

‘‘I’ll have to miss three weeks of school but, because it’s for performing arts my school doesn’t mind too much. ‘‘I’ll catch up the work I miss in the holidays.’’ A bank account called the Tegan Totterdell Performing Arts Fund has been set up at Westpac with the account number 03-0418-0182905-00.

If you are interested in helping Tegan Totterdell get to New York, your donation would be welcomed.

• 19 May 2011
• Waikato Times. Reporter Louise Risk .