Young dancer Stephanie Grobbelaar is well on her way to becoming a prima ballerina.
The 16-year-old from Sanctuary Lakes has been offered a place in the Dutch National Ballet Academy’s pre-professional program.
The 10-month program, for dancers aged 15 to 19, offers intensive dance training and a chance for students to perform in Dutch National Ballet productions.
Stephanie was accepted into the program after she auditioned in Europe last year and in August will travel to Amsterdam to begin her studies.
The Sanctuary Lakes Foundation, which provides funding and mentoring to young achievers in Melbourne’s west, has helped with Stephanie’s overseas travel costs.
Stephanie described her European trip as “a wonderful experience”.
Stephanie started studying ballet at the age of three at the West Pointe Ballet Academy in Williamstown.
During 2014, she began a full-time ballet program at the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet and continued her school studies via distance education.
Stephanie’s family has began fundraising and applying for grants to help with the costs of her studies in Amsterdam.
See gofundme.com/stephs-ballet-journey-2vwpyrtz for details.
