Western News: October 05, 2023

4
Thursday October 5 2023
Young
ballerina
TOUCH THE SKY:
Olivia Russell,
Tamison’s dance
instructor, has
‘helped her get to
where she is today’.
faces
decision of
a lifetime
EN POINTE: Tamison Soppet has gained a scholarship to some of the world’s best ballet
schools after winning a major competition in Sydney.
• By Sasha Watson
TAMISON SOPPET might only
be 13, but she has what could be
a life-defining decision to make.
The Convergence Dance
Studios student has been offered
scholarships to the Royal Ballet
School in London, John Cranko
Ballet in Germany, Princess
Grace Dance Academy in
Monaco and the Australian
Ballet School in Melbourne.
Tamison has the opportunity
to follow in the footsteps of
Italian Alessandra Ferri, who
attended the Royal Ballet School
in the early 1980’s; or Queen
Elizabeth II’s appointed prima
ballerina assoluta of the school,
Dame Margot Fonteyn; or even
the famous Rudolf Nureyev.
“Tamison has been competing
all her life and dancing since
she was four. Her dream is to
become a professional dancer,”
said her mother, Toni Soppet.
“Now, she has an opportunity
to travel the world, experience
dancing at different schools, and
see what is out there for her.”
Tamison competed at the
Youth America Grand Prix ballet
competition, held in Sydney late
last month, against more than
200 dancers aged 12-14.
After three days of performing
and attending masterclasses,
Tamison was called back for
further judging, where the junior
grand prix title was officially
awarded to her by consensus of a
four-judge panel.
The scholarship enables her
to attend one of four top ballet
schools in the world for a period
of up to four weeks.
“Winning is one thing and
absolutely something to be proud
of, but the scholarships and
exposure is where the ‘excel’ part
starts,” said Soppet.
“Tamison is over the moon to
have such an accomplishment
under her belt. This is the
first time she’s been overseas
to compete - which is pretty
incredible.”
She said Tamison was judged
for her ‘artistry, technicality,
musicality, and performance’ in
both classical and contemporary
categories.
“We moved to Convergence
Dance Studios a couple of years
ago and I cannot give Olivia
Russell, her dance instructor,
enough credit,” said Soppet.
“Her incredible nurturing,
time, effort and training has
helped Tamison get to where she
is today.”
Outside of dancing, Soppet
said Tamison enjoys swapping
her ballet shoes for gumboots
while hanging out at her friend’s
alpaca farm, and doing ‘normal
kid’ things.
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