Lauren Perrett has been dancing since she was two, and on January 17 will start on her first audition tour for 2016 with the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School and Elmhust School for Dance.
Her mother Diana Chivers said Lauren had a strong work ethic when it came to dance, having started out doing jazz, tap and ballet.
“At five she declared she only wanted to do classical ballet and at eight said she will dance in the UK and become a professional ballet dancer,” she said.
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READ NOW“She has never swayed from that goal and has worked tirelessly for 15 years to achieve her ambition.”
Lauren trains with the Charlesworth Ballet Institute (CBI) where she went into the fulltime ballet program in Year 9 and has completed her academic program at the Schools of Isolated and Distance Education.
Ms Chivers said during that time, her daughter completed her certificates III and IV in ballet performance and maintained high marks in her academic program.
She said the dance program involved eight hours a day, plus two hours travel, followed by two to three hours of school work every evening, and Lauren recently graduated from Year 12.
“Lauren sustained a devastating injury – a broken foot – in 2014 and as a result had to work even harder during a rigorous six-month rehabilitation program,” Ms Chivers said.
“That included intensive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and gym work whilst also being at ballet every day to complete floor barre classes, upper body work and keep up with her ballet course (and) school work.
“Following her injury and subsequent rehab program she became even more focused and determined to continue her training and move on to work as a professional ballet dancer.
“Lauren is now better than ever and has demonstrated resilience beyond her years that has helped her come back to full strength as a dancer.”
Over summer, Lauren had the role of the Snow Queen in the Nutcracker at His Majesty’s Theatre, and her other dance roles have included the White Cat, Candide and Lilac Fairy from Sleeping Beauty.
Ms Chivers said the offer of auditions at the UK schools was a testament to her daughter’s hard work, talent and teaching she received at CBI.
“Lauren will return to Perth in early February for 10 days to prepare for her second audition tour throughout mainland Europe with Sonya Shepherd, director of CBI,” she said.
“Lauren will remain under the tutelage of Sonya until August 2016 at which time she will leave Perth to take up a position overseas.”
The family has set up a fundraising page to help Lauren pursue her dancing career.
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/laurenperrettbllet.