Billy Elliot, who?
Ballerina Amy Ronnfeldt (Year 8) has been tutu-ing away since the wee age of four. Though it may not have been love at first pirouette, nearly ten years later Amy is establishing herself as one of Australia’s leading ballet dancers of her age.
Though she’s only in Year 8 this year, Amy’s ballet resume is already boasting some serious bragging rights. Last year she travelled to Sydney to compete in the national Genée Dance Challenge competition, after winning first place in the semi-final in South Australia. Though she may not have won the national competition, her regional win places her amongst the best ballet dancers nationwide, in her age division - or at least amongst those 'who auditioned' as clarified by the ever humble Amy. And what performances you may ask? Amy has performed in Ballet Theatre of Queensland’s 2014 production of The Little Mermaid and Queensland Ballet’s 2015 production of La Sylphide and The Nutcracker. Just this January, Amy returned to the ballet stage yet again in Ballet Theatre of Queensland’s Cinderella.
But it doesn’t stop there, oh no. Miss Amy has received an offer from the Royal Ballet in London (London!) to take part in a summer workshop which she will attend this year. You read that right. The Royal Ballet. London. (London!!)
To become as skilled as she is, Amy dances six days a week, with practices ranging from one hour long to eight hours long. It does sound like madness, I agree, but Amy “enjoys challenging [herself]” and dances because “it makes [her] feel like she can conquer anything.” To Amy, the best part of ballet is “getting to learn different dancing and constructing and making [dances] your own”.
The only thing that occasionally hinders this infinite bliss is “thinking too much and stressing about not being perfect”. As Amy’s ballet career continues to unfold, however, she’s learning to overcome this self-doubt, which can be overwhelming for anyone in any aspect of life. She makes sure to remember that “[she] picks on [herself] more than anyone else does”. This impressive level of self-awareness allows Amy to focus on the bigger picture and “look at the experience” as with anything, there’s more to life than the “little moves”.
So get keen to see Amy one day living her dream as a principle dancer in the Australian Ballet.
