A talented Projection Dance School student and an award winner in last year’s Red Carpet Youth Awards is about to live her longtime dream.
Meg Newton will move to London in September to train at the renown Royal Ballet School.
The 15-year-old reflected on her Red Carpet journey last year, saying she was grateful for the judging panel’s belief in her talent.
As a winner in the performing arts award category, the teenager used her prize money towards taking an overseas trip to audition for three prestigious ballet schools including the Royal Ballet of London, the Princess Grace Dance Academy of Monaco and the John Cranko School of Ballet in Stuttgart, Germany to have her talents professionally assessed.
“It was a shock to be offered full-time placement at all three,” Meg said.
“I have accepted an offer to train at the Royal Ballet School in London, which is full-time for three years.”
Her dream will become reality in September when she will move to London to live and work in the famous and coveted “upper school” of the Royal Ballet, which was also once home to many of the international ballet royalty including Dame Margot Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev.
From the age of three she wanted to be a “beautiful ballerina” and on turning seven she was enrolled in the now successful and popular Projection Dance School in Wodonga, operated by international ballet choreographer Tim Podesta and his assistant tutor Victoria Ballard.
By invitation, Mr Podesta has, for many years, been a guest choreographer for many productions by several international ballet companies in Europe and is, again by invitation, currently visiting South Africa and Ethiopia to establish dance schools as part of the Australian Government’s foreign aid programme.
“My teacher Tim has been back and forward from the London school over the years and so I have heard many good things,” Meg said.
“It became my dream to one day attend the school.
“My next goal is to be part of the Royal Ballet Company in 2022-2023.”
Meg said she wanted to thank the Red Carpet youth committee and judging panel.
“You guys contributed to my dream coming true and I will always remember the people of Wodonga for the support and encouragement they have for performing arts,” she said.
“So thank you Wodonga Council, the Red Carpet Youth Award organisers and, of course, Projection Dance School for this opportunity.”
