The 10-year-old is a student of the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance in Taree and travelled to Sydney last year for auditions.

She has been taking dance classes since the age of six and currently trains in ballet, jazz and contemporary classes over four days a week.

Esther recently completed her third grade ballet exam for the Royal Academy of Dance and received a distinction and a mark of 93.

When she heard her audition was successful she was excited.

The program includes attending at least one compulsory intensive training week at The Australian Ballet School in Melbourne.

“Other than that they can attend as often as the family wants or as often as the family can manage,” said dance school principal Andrea Rowsell.

“It’s going to be a good year. She is going to learn an awful lot and hopefully bring that back and we can help her with what they are wanting from her. And I hope she continues to love it,” said Andrea.

Other students from the dance school who were accepted into the program last year, Wil Hellstedt and Jasinta Birchall (who also happens to be a relation of Esther’s), will be continuing this year.

Andrea is thrilled to have another student joining them. “It’s fantastic for Esther. It’s a privilege to have another lovely young one on the journey. It’s great for the local area and it shows that people in the country can learn and excel just as much as the city kids.”

For Esther, who is in year 5 at the Taree Christian College, dance is freedom.

“I love that I can express myself and be who I am.”

She also has big dreams for where it could take her.

“I want to be a professional dancer and dance with The Australian Ballet company and dance all over the world,” she said.