By Juliet Speedy
Forget singing happy birthday Mr President to JFK, a talented young Christchurch boy is off to Washington to dance for Barack Obama.
He is part of a group of just 25 from around the world invited by the United States president and wife Michelle to dance at the White House.
The invite tops off a great year for the 14-year-old. He left Christchurch today to first fly to Michigan and start a two year scholarship at a prestigious arts academy.
The family garage is a far cry from the US president's house but it's where Joshua Guillemot-Rodgerson has been practising for up to 20 hours a week.
This afternoon, his friends were reduced to tears as the 14-year-old prepared to leave Christchurch for the trip of a lifetime.
“I'm real excited for the times to come and also quite sad to be leaving my family, but I know I’m going to have so much fun over there,” says Joshua.
The fun will involve dancing alongside 24 other youngsters at the White House, where he also hopes to meet president Obama, although he's still not sure what he'll say to him.
“I'd have to say something like ‘it was a real honour, I’m from New Zealand’, hopefully he knows where that is - he probably does,” says Joshua.
The contemporary tap, jazz and ballet dancer has been at it since he was four years old, and always showed flair.
“He was almost dancing before he was walking,” says Joshua’s uncle, Chris Mene.
Joshua's mum Dee says she’s very proud.
“We'll miss him heaps, don't know who's going to do my housework but anyway we'll sort that out later,” she says.
Joshua has also won a two year scholarship to the in Michigan worth $70,000 a year.
He will perform at the White House on September 7.
3 News