An 11-year-old Surrey student from Diamond Elementary School has been chosen from more than 2,400 students from around the world to take part in a training program in the prestigious Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program.
Meigan Picard, who has been dancing since she was three years old in community classes, has always had a passion and talent for the craft, says her father.
“Meigan often jokes that she will attend Harvard,” laughs Brad Picard, who says his daughter regularly writes down her goals because she heard it makes them happen more quickly.
“She is very disciplined. She often does homework in the car, to and from dance practices,” says Picard, who also adds they have a deal that she keep her grades up in order for her to continue dancing.
Meigan maintains straight-A grades.
Meigan received her ballet training at Flora Pigeau Dance Academy in Surrey, and studied jazz and contemporary styles in Aldergrove.
She has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships from competitions, dance festivals and conventions.
Meigan previously attended Boston Ballet’s summer program in 2011, and Canada’s National Ballet School’s summer program in Toronto in 2012.
She has been chosen as the Junior Classical Ballet B.C. Provincial Representative Runner-Up at the Chilliwack Lions Club Music and Dance Festival for 2011 and 2012.
In the future, Meigan plans on pursuing a more academic career path, while dancing remains more of a hobby for her.
She is currently working with Danielle Gardner of “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” and trains five-and-a-half hours per week in ballet.
“She hopes to possibly apply to Juilliard when she turns 16,” says her dad.
Meigan’s favourite subject in school is Language Arts and she enjoys spending her free time with her brother.
Boston Ballet has been one of the leading ballet schools in North America since 1963, with more than 10,000 students training in their programs for five to six hours per day.
The Summer Dance Program is an intensive training program in classical ballet designed for aspiring pre-professional students.
The training includes technique, pointe, variations, and partnering classes, along with the opportunity to show growth and development in final performance workshops.
