NORWICH – Nearly 10 years of hard work and dedication to dance are paying off for a Norwich youth who has a chance to dance his way into the national spotlight and is seeking help from the local community.

Aidan Sullivan, a Norwich eighth grader and longtime student of the Amber Perkins School of the Arts, is the recipient of a dance scholarship giving him an opportunity to attend an intensive dance program at Disney where he’ll work with Broadway status talent, learn new techniques, and perform in the national spotlight during the televised Disney Christmas parade in December.

The scholarship – just one of four awarded to four dancers at a recent competition in Syracuse ­– pays a portion of Sullivan’s tuition into the program and his airfare. However, he’s reaching out to the community to raise an additional $4,000 to front remaining costs of tuition.

“This is exciting because I get the chance to improve, then come back and show how much I've improved,” said Sullivan. “Right now, I'm sending out letters to businesses to see if they want to donate.”

Sullivan’s fundraising campaign targets area business owners who are willing to pitch in. The goal, he said, is to raise enough to pay tuition while his family pays additional expenses, including lodging and food.

“We’re looking for anything that people want to donate. Every little bit helps,” he added.