The Big Apple will soon be welcoming local star Shaleeni Ranchhod, who leaves for New York tomorrow to begin her studies at the New York Film Academy.
The Big Apple will soon be welcoming local star Shaleeni Ranchhod, who leaves for New York tomorrow to begin her studies at the New York Film Academy.
In September, the 18-year-old will begin a three-year specialisation in Musical Theatre. Gushing with excitement, the former DSG pupil reflects on the process that brought her to this point: “I never even thought of auditioning, but my friend phoned in as me and set up my audition date. I had to prepare a song and on the way to Plet Rage, I flew up to Johannesburg and performed in front of a panel of three judges," Shaleeni told Grocott's Mail this week. "I was the youngest applicant in the group of 600 people and most were in their 20s.”
After performing Michael Buble’s, Feeling Good, she was told on the spot that she and two others would be going to New York to attend one of the finest performing arts schools in the world and hone her craft in Musical Theatre. The New York Film Academy was founded on the philosophy of learning by doing combined with best industry practices.
Shaleeni will be building upon a lifelong dream that began at the age of two and a half when she began piano and violin lessons and later acting lessons. At DSG, she completed her advanced performance diploma via Trinity College London. “I have always loved performing, as long as I can remember.
From the age of three, my mom used to take me to the ballet. I remember watching musical theatre, enthralled at the idea that it could one day be me up there. This could easily be a reality considering that the likes of Kevin Kline, Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Steven Spielberg, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Glen Close and Sir Ben Kingsley are among those teaching classes at the school. And Shaleeni's dream role? Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera.”
