The 11-year-old is preparing for one of the biggest adventures of her young life so far, as she travels to Sydney to attend McDonald College and study classical ballet.

The aspiring ballerina has been awarded a scholarship and will board at the school.

"I was always going to go to boarding school at some stage but we thought year eight or nine," said Charlotte, explaining that her older sister and brother started boarding school in year nine.

“We didn’t think it would be this early. My cousin went to McDonald College and we knew it was a good school.

“We thought it might be a good thing for me to go earlier.

“I’m very excited. I was so excited to hear I got in.”

She has already had a taste of what life will be like at her new school, attending a year seven class for a day.

It included maths lessons at the start before a couple of hours in the stream she will be studying (ballet), some more lessons back at school before attending after school activities.

Charlotte has been dancing since she was two and started lessons at the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance when she was four. 

"I have gained a lot more confidence and lots of friends."

Classical ballet is her favourite style and she looks up to dancers including Lucinda Dunn from the Australian Ballet as inspiration.

"She's pretty amazing."

With her sights set firmly on her dancing, Charlotte has attended many classes as well as private lessons.

Up until she began school holidays in December, a typical week (in addition to school at St Joseph's Primary in Taree) included a private lesson on Monday morning as well three other dance classes in the afternoon, Tuesday was two dance classes, Wednesday there were no dance classes but she did have rehearsals for Mary Poppins, Thursday was one dance class and a singing lesson and Friday was a private dance lesson and three classes.

Charlotte had wanted to do more and was working at a level above her own grade.

She has just finished Grade Five and is now an intermediate level student and has started pointe work.

2015 was a huge year for Charlotte.

She was the winner of the NSW RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Joan and Monica Halliday Awards, a competition held every year that Charlotte and another student from Andrea's school both entered for the experience.

The girls went in with no expectations but got through the first heat, and were successful at each level, making the finals.

Again they went in with no expectations but in the end Charlotte came first and her friend came second.

Her prize was $500 which went towards her ballet tuition.

Coincidentally, the adjudicator was Andrea Rowsell's former ballet teacher John Byrne, who used to be the head of the RAD in London.

She introduced the girls to him after the competition and he commented on their good technique.

Charlotte also travelled to America with the dance school in April to perform at Disneyland.

In her solo exam this year (where she gives three performances in the exam room and is marked on technique and performance skills) she gained a perfect score of 100 and in her group exam (where she is examined along with three other dancers at the same time) she scored 95.

Charlotte completed her second year of the Australian Ballet School Interstate Program and has been invited to go back again in 2016.

Also a talented singer and actor she had her first experience with musical theatre as she performed the role of Jane Banks in Taree Arts Council's Mary Poppins.

"I learned a lot about acting. I've only had a few acting classes and I learned how to act in a scene and how to stay in a scene and not start thinking about something else."

Charlotte has also performed at many community events including Carols in the Park, an event for Rotary, as well as the dance school's annual showcase and numerous eisteddfods.

Dance principal Andrea Rowsell is proud of Charlotte's achievements.

"Charlotte deserves everything she gets in a good way," said Andrea.

"She works hard, she's highly motivated and she could have a future in ballet if she wants it."

She said with Charlotte's theatrical talents her career could go in many directions.

"Classical ballet is great for Charlotte as she is a perfectionist and she likes to get things right.

"Now is the time she'll start to blossom. She's got a good background and with more experience she will excel even more so."

Charlotte's dream is to one day dance for a company somewhere - or at least just be on stage.

"Whether that be in musical theatre or classical ballet."

While she will be studying classical ballet as her stream at McDonald College she said she can study musical theatre after school or as an elective as well.

lauren.green@fairfaxmedia.com.au