Fourteen ballet students, including some from Abbotsford, are a step closer to achieving their goals after having successfully auditioned for Canada’s top ballet company schools.
The students are all from Fraser Valley Academy of Dance (FVAD) in Mission.
Isabella Almarez (Hatzic Middle School) and Jasia Greenan (Summit Learning) were among the few who qualified for Canada’s National Ballet School summer session following their auditions in Vancouver. Almarez was the only student invited for her age group in an audition class of 40 students.
For Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School (RWBS), more than 500 auditioned across the country for a coveted 100 places.
Among the 100 selected were six FVAD students: Almarez, Grace Loewen (Summit Learning), Anna Neudorf (MEI Middle School), Priscilla Gubiotti (Robert Bateman Secondary), Brooke Thomas (Robert Bateman Secondary), and Chase Bradley (Island Discovery Learning).
Neudorf was presented with a full tuition scholarship award following her audition. A seventh student, Lindsay Kim (Langley), has earned a place on the RWBS summer wait list.
Another seven FVAD students have been invited to attend summer sessions at the School of Alberta Ballet: Elle Penner, Alycia Wilson, Katherine Rogalski, Tiffany Reitsema, and siblings Abigail and Andrew Delves. Younger sister Allison Delves was too young to audition for the full program but will be attending their Junior Division summer classes.
All of the above-mentioned students will be performing in Mission as part of the cast of The Nutcracker at the Clarke Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 3. Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online at fvad.ca or call 604-826-0097. They can also be bought at the school office at 33219 First Ave. or at the door.
