ASJA Petrovski has come a long way since crying on her first day of ballet class in Melbourne.
“My mum put me in to ballet when I was three years old, just because she thought it would be cute and something little girls did,” Petrovski, of Maylands, said.
“The more I went, the less I would cry and then I decided I quite liked it.”
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READ NOWWhen she was eight, Petrovski’s ballet teacher suggested she audition for the Australian Ballet School, which she did successfully and studied at until she was 18 years old.
“Dancing was something I had a huge passion for and didn’t feel the same about anything else,” she said.
“I really enjoyed ballet and thought I could make a career out of it.”
Petrovski continued on her career trajectory when she joined WA Ballet in March this year in the Young Artist Program, where she made her debut in the May season of La Sylphide.
The 21 year old’s dedication and hard work since then has paid off, rewarded with the leading role of Clara in The Nutcracker season and a promotion to Corps de Ballet in 2019.
“My Corps de Ballet contract for next year means I’m part of the company, which is really special,” she said.
“The Young Artist Program is like an apprenticeship position and it’s really nice because you get to work closely with the company and the artistic staff gets to see what you’re like and how you work with the company.”
Petrovski said she performed in The Nutcracker during her first year at the Australian Ballet School and remembered being in awe of Clara and her journey.
“So now it’s a dream come true that I’m doing the role,” she said.
“She is a very playful, hyperactive and sweet character who is enchanted by so many things.
“It’s wonderful to dance and I’m still in shock I’ll be doing it on stage.
“Everyone has heard of The Nutcracker; it’s a truly magical, beautiful and family friendly ballet.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: The Nutcracker
Where: His Majesty’s Theatre
When: November 16 to December 9
Tickets: www.waballet.com.au