BALLET may be in their blood, but sisters Alicia and Amelia Townsend are setting standards all of their own after they both achieved 100 per cent in recent exams.
Proud mum and Manly West ballet teacher Annette Roselli said the girls, aged 12 and 10, had been studying ballet since they were three.
This year, Alicia sat her intermediate foundation exam and Amelia sat for Grade 5 through the Royal Academy of Dance. Alicia’s is the next level after Grade 5.
“Both girls have achieved in the high 90s in their previous exams - it’s easier to get high marks in the lower levels, but if you achieve it at this level it’s really something special,” Ms Roselli said.
Alicia”s results came back in June and the family had an anxious wait until this month to hear Amelia’s results.
“The girls were over the moon and I was really proud of them because they’ve put in a lot of hard work and they live very busy lives - they are both elite rhythmic gymnasts as well.”
To add to the girls’ achievements, their skills gained international recognition at the Rainbow Connection World Dance Championships in Los Angeles last month.
Alicia placed first in classical ballet and Amelia placed first in contemporary dance and second in classical ballet. They were also awarded the highest marks out of all Australian duos for their dance to Celine Dion’s A New Day.
“It was good to give them international exposure and to see what to continue to work towards.”
TOP PERFORMERS: Amelia, 10, and Alicia, 12, Townsend.
By KIRSTY CRANITCH
