Natalie Gregg
WHEN your dream is to become a famous ballerina, it’s wise to have a back-up plan.
Aside from the 15 hours a week that Alicia Townsend, 12, spends in ballet practice, she has gymnastics before school, and regular classes in jazz, tap and musical theatre.
“I enjoy the variety and if I don't make it as a famous ballerina, maybe I could have a tap career or do Broadway”, Alicia said.
But the diminutive dancer may not need to rely on her fall-back position. She was recently offered a place in the Queensland Ballet’s Junior Extension Program.
Only 22 dancers were selected out of 120 who auditioned for the 2010 program, which is seen as a stepping stone to a professional dance career.
She has just returned from winning her age category in the national Society of Dance Arts competition in Sydney.
The win comes as Alicia received a score of 100 per cent for her recent Royal Academy of Dance exams.
Alicia began dancing at her mother’s Annette Roselli Ballet Academy in Manly when she was three years old. her sister Amelia, 10 is also a dancer.
“I never get bored with ballet, I just love dancing to the music”, she said. “ My sister and I do a duo together called ‘A new day’ by Celine Dion.
“Our mum was a professional ballerina and we both want to be ballerinas when we grow up.”
Courier Mail
