It’s the first international competition for the 13-year-old from Old Bar who is a student of the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance in Taree.

“I have to do a variation from a ballet and a contrasting solo or neo-classical. I’m doing Bluebird from the Sleeping Beauty for the ballet solo.

“There’s lots of different versions of Bluebird so you pick one. You have to use their speed music and you have to adapt the version you picked to the music,” she said.

“I’m really excited. I think it’ll be a really good experience on stage to try a solo. I want to pursue dancing as my career and to try it on stage, although I’m only 13.”

The competition is just another step Mia is taking to stretch her skills and experience in dance.

In December she spent six days at the Queensland Ballet for an elite summer school.

“I did classical ballet classes, repertoire classes, pointe work, character and contemporary. The corps de ballet routine was a piece from Giselle,” she said.

About 20 dancers aged 12 and 13 from NSW, Brisbane and Melbourne were accepted into the first-time program.

“It was so good; all the different teachers’ opinions and all the corrections and seeing different styles of teaching.”

Mia learned about the program while attending a workshop in Newcastle.

She submitted a video audition, which included barre work, centre and pointe work, and a ballet variation, which is a solo out of a ballet, and was accepted.

“I was surprised that I did,” she said.

Mia is heading into her sixth year as a student of ARAD and takes classes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, advanced foundation, group classes for the eisteddfod, as well as private lessons.

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