Joffrey; Week 1

I have just finished my first week of classes at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. I feel so lucky to have such an amazing opportunity, the teachers are incredible and I feel like I'm improving already! Yesterday's teacher was an ex-Bolshoi dancer :D

It's been awesome to see New York too, (although I have to say, the Subway is a lot more confusing than the London Underground!!) so far we've visited Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge, which was phenomenal! (I'll upload photos when I work out how to!) This afternoon, I'm going to see American Ballet Theatre's Swan Lake, which I'm super excited about! 

Ballet West

A few months ago, I auditioned via video, for a place at Ballet West, in Scotland. I really wasn't expecting a place at all- in fact I just wanted the rejection email to come quickly, so I could get over my inevitable failure and move on. 

Last week, I glanced at my phone, whilst modelling for a group of artists who were drawing portraits. I had a voicemail message from an unfamiliar number, so clicked on it to listen, out of curiousity. "Hello Sophie, this is Jean from Ballet West," oh please no, I'm surrounded by people, this is not a good time for a rejection, I thought desperately- yet couldn't quite bring myself to cut off the message. The voice continued "We are sorry to have kept you waiting, but I am calling you with the good news that we would like to offer you a place at Ballet West, for this September". The world seemed to stand still for a second, I barely dared to believe what I was hearing. To the shock and bemusement of the poor artists who were drawing me, I screamed with delight, feeling as if, at last, the entire universe was perfect. It felt entirely surreal- in fact it still does- to think that just as I had lost hope, my ballet school dream finally came true. When I received my official letter confirming my place at the school, it felt just like the scene in Billy Elliot, when Billy got his letter from the Royal!!

This week, mum and I went to Scotland to visit Ballet West. It  is in a tiny, sleepy village on the north west coast of the Scottish Highlands, called Taynuilt. The scenery is breathtaking, although we did get very lost attempting to walk from the station to the school, after nine hours on a train!! Luckily, a lovely lady pulled over in her car and offered us a lift to Ballet West. At the school, we watched a pas de deux class- the dancers were all very gifted, and it was lovely to see the trust between the students. Then, we met Gillian, who is the owner of the school. She is incredibly kind, and reassured mum that she takes very good care of all of her students!! Mum and I stayed the night in Oban, before travelling home- having made a definite decision that I belong at Ballet West!! Although moving away from home is a daunting prospect, I am already counting down the days until I start at Ballet West, it's all so exciting!

Meanwhile, I'm busy preparing for a trip to New York; I'm off to the Joffrey Ballet School summer intensive next week!!!!! :D