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How I Started Ballet

Avery | future ballerina

When I was three my father took me to see a professional production of the Nutcracker. I sat and watched the whole thing. From then on, I knew I wanted to dance.

My parents finally signed me up for dance classes when I was four years old. Originally, I took tap, jazz, and modern ballet.

Then I went to a new dance studio. There, I took classical ballet and jazz classes. Then I was invited to attend a private ballet academy. I responded yes. The ballet academy is great because I dance for half the day, then do academics the other half.

The same year I started the ballet academy, I auditioned for the Nutcracker. I was selected to play the part of a party girl. Later that year, I auditioned for Alice in Wonderland and was picked to be a mushroom.

That summer they expanded my school. I have been at the ballet academy now for two years.

Over all my years doing ballet, I have had many great experiences that help me train to become a professional ballerina. In fact, my teacher recommends that I audition for a summer intensive next month. Then next year, I will compete in the Youth American Grand Prix, which my teacher says is the olympics of ballet.

When I grow up, I plan to be a professional ballerina. Later in my career, I would like to be a ballet teacher. I have read many books about ballet and becomming a professional ballerina. I have watched and studied the classical ballets. I watch my teacher and learn how to teach.

With hard work and practice I know will reach my goals.

Avery's essay appears here as written, to preserve the young author’s unique voice and individual writing style. However, we have deleted personally identifiable information to protect the student’s privacy.