A Cronulla dancer who never thought he would like ballet, has made the finals of the Sydney Eisteddfod Ballet Scholarship.
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Ernesto Young, 17, has been dancing since he was 8. Mostly dancing jazz and hip-hop, the dancer started full-time training at Alegra Dance Studios, in Sydney's east, where he discovered a passion for classical ballet.
He will perform in the concert hall at Sydney Opera House on July 21, in a special gala. With 16 finalists (eight in each age group), dancers will perform for a live audience and an industry panel.
Ernesto, a graduate of Newtown High School of The Performing Arts, is a finalist in the senior 16-19 years category, and has a chance to win an $18,000 scholarship.
The winner will also be offered the opportunity to attend a four-week intensive course with the Houston Ballet Academy based at the Houston Ballet Centre for Dance.
"I've never had a super strong passion for ballet," Ernesto said. "I've never resonated with it, but this year I've felt a stronger connection with it.
"I competed in New York in April and got a scholarship to the Berlin State Ballet School, a four year scholarship in Madrid, and in the UK. I was also accepted into the Australian Ballet School this year but I'm keen to get overseas experience. I will audition in Berlin and do a competition in London. My dream is to be in a company in Europe and hopefully one day be a principal dancer and finish in Australia, because we do have an incredible company."
Ernesto said being a male dancer was challenging. "The ballet standard is so high," he said. "In Australia we are lacking a bit in terms of diversity with boys, but it's getting better. It's such a masculine art form of athleticism, and you need mental strength to endure the every day. It is starting to be appreciated."
