Established in 1964, the Australian Ballet School (ABS) has always been where you want to be if you are serious about ballet in Australia.
Arwyn Freeman is very serious about following her dreams to Melbourne’s ABS in 2025.
She’s born, bred and educated in Byron Bay, and the Karen Ireland Dance Centre in Lismore is where Arwyn has been training for the last three years.
Sixteen-year-old Arwyn has been dancing since she was just two. Her current teacher, ‘Miss Karen’ says Arwyn’s natural ability for dance was apparent from an early age. ‘This talent has continued to develop as a result of her desire, impressive perseverance, deep passion and an undeniable determination and commitment to her training.’
Earlier this year, Miss Karen suggested Arwyn audition for ABS – an international audition, with only 12 students chosen. They had to attend the ABS for a week, and out of the 12, they only took two girls – Arwyn was one of them.
At a cost of around $40,000 per year for tuition, board and extras, Arwyn and her mum Viv are hoping to get some financial help along the way.
For Arwyn the opportunity is everything.
She says, ‘What I love most about ballet is the emotional feeling I get when I’m dancing. It’s the sense of accomplishment and freedom that comes from knowing I’ve put in countless hours of practice and dedication’.
‘Ballet pushes me to grow, not just as a dancer, as a person, teaching me patience, discipline, and resilience.’
To assist Arwyn, contact Karen Ireland on 0416 094 283 or email [email protected].
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