Bedfordview resident Savannah Ireland is taking the world of ballet by storm.
The 17-year-old was one of three South African girls who won scholarships to dance in New York for five weeks after which she was invited to dance at the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition which took place in April.
“I made it to the finals and I was one of eight girls in the world and the only one from South Africa to be awarded a scholarship to compete in Spain in August,” she said.
Savannah’s mother, Ms Natasha Ireland said her daughter deserves all the recognition and accolades. “She puts in a lot of hard work. She dances for four to six hours a day, six days a week. When not dancing she is doing Pilates and yoga,” said Ms Ireland.
Savannah is currently with the renowned Joburg Ballet Academy.
The company often chooses girls from the academy to be part of certain performances and Savannah has always made the cut.
She has danced, among others, the Giselle, Don Quixote as well as Swan Lake, one of the most popular ballets.
Savannah said what she enjoys most about dancing is the performing. “Getting on stage and just performing is the most amazing feeling and I love that,” she said.
She has also been given a bursary to compete at the Genée International Ballet Competition in Sydney taking place in December.
In the near future, Savannah said she hopes to join the Joburg Ballet Company. “I do have plans to dance overseas and learn different ways and styles of dance,” said Savannah.
Savannah said young girls wanting to dance professionally should keep working on their craft. “Never give up. Ballet is subjective. There will always be someone who won’t like you for being too tall, too short or just the shape of your legs, but keep on,” said Savannah.
