MOVING to the other side of the country to pursue your dreams can be daunting at any age, let alone at 15.
But the commitment has paid off for former Alexander Heights ballet dancer Brodie James, who has been nominated for a prestigious national award.
The 23-year-old moved to Melbourne at 15 on a scholarship to the Australian Ballet School and joined The Australian Ballet Company five years ago.
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READ NOWHe is now one of six dancers vying for the coveted Telstra Ballet Award, which will see the winner awarded $20,000.
“I was so stoked; I was actually the last name called out,” he said. “I’ve been with the company for about five years and seen colleagues have their names called out.
“I started to think maybe it wouldn’t happen for me.”
It is a reward for James’s perseverance and passion. He began in jazz and tap when he was nine, and found his niche in ballet a couple of years later.
“Every male dancer that started off at a young age generally experienced a little bit of bullying,” he said.
“It didn’t really affect me; I knew that’s what I liked to do and I didn’t let that stop me.”
He is also unconcerned about his hectic schedule, which can include eight performances in six days.
The award winner will be announced in Sydney on December 2.