A Kildare teenager who dreams of one day being a prima ballerina has been accepted at one of Europe’s best dance schools.
Aisling Kennedy from Celbridge has been accepted for professional dance training at the Central School of Ballet (CSB) in London.
The 16-year-old has been dancing since she was just two years old and dreams of making it to the top of her profession.
The pretty teen trains six days a week, a regime she says that equals that of a top athlete.
“I've completed the first term at Central School of Ballet and it's been hard work but fun too,” Aisling said. “We train at least six hours a day during the week and take classes on Saturday morning. “
She added: “You have to be dedicated to make it to the top of this profession but it's my dream to be a dancer at one of the top ballet companies when I graduate. The training here is as challenging as any top athlete but the rewards of performing are what we all look forward to."
Aisling was one of only 38 pupils accepted for a place this year on the three year degree course - a BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Performance.
She was selected for her place from 420 applicants.
Every spring CSB holds auditions for budding dancers who perform for the school’s teaching staff in a bid to gain a place at the school.
As well as ballet, the school also offers classes in contemporary dance and tuition in choreography, Spanish dance, pilates, jazz dance, drama and singing.
Aisling, a former pupil of the Celbridge School of Ballet, was a student at St Wolstan’s Community School in Ireland where she earned seven As and four Bs in her Junior Certificate.
During her final year at CSB she will join the school's touring company Ballet Central.
Ballet Central’s annual nationwide tour starts this year on March 8 in Hertford and will visit 22 venues across Britain including the Lowry in Salford Quays and the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House.
CBS director Sara Matthews said: “Only the most talented and dedicated students are accepted but ballet is no longer an elitist profession. Around 25 per cent of CSB students are given some kind of financial assistance through the school to allow them to complete their tuition here.”
Recent CSB students are currently employed The Royal Ballet, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company and English National Ballet and more.
So it looks like Aisling is set to pirouette her way to the top of the ballet world.
