Huntingdale resident Aiden Foster dazzled audiences at the Sydney opera house after finishing in the top eight at the Sydney eisteddfod McDonald’s ballet scholarship.
The 17-year-old battled it out on stage against 171 other teenagers for the chance to win a $15,000 scholarship, $3000 cash and the opportunity for a short secondment with the royal Danish ballet.
The finals took place at the weekend and gave dancers the opportunity to perform in front of industry professionals at the opera house.
Aiden said whilst he did not win he was happy to have been the only finalist from WA.
“It was my first time dancing at the opera house and I got to dance in front of the director of the Australian ballet so it was an amazing experience,” he said. Aiden took up ballet when he was 12 after starting out in jazz and tap.
He started full time at Charlesworth ballet college in Burswood two years later where he has been on a scholarship ever since.
“I dance six days a week for eight hours a day so it’s full on,” he said.
“It’s good because there are always new challenges with ballet.
“Keeping injury free can be hard and I often have injuries but it’s just about learning to manage them, warming up properly and keeping fit.”
Aiden said he hoped to make a career out of ballet and would visit Europe in February next year for a series of auditions.
“There’s one ballet company in Perth and to make it in most dancers go overseas first for more training or more exposure,” he said.
