AT ONLY 10 years of age, Alfie Shacklock from Peregian is on his way to achieving his dream of becoming a ballet soloist.
Alfie was in Brisbane recently participating in a master class for aspiring young dancers when he was spotted by a talent scout for the Australian Ballet School (ABS) and invited to join the much-coveted ABS Interstate Programme.
The ABS is Australia’s national centre for elite vocational dance and is the school for The Australian Ballet.
The ABS is not the only prestigious ballet school to recognise Alfie’s talents. Alfie attended junior master classes at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, by invitation, while on holiday in the UK over the Christmas break after being noticed at a village dance school class.
Alfie currently attends The Dance Centre Peregian Springs’ full-time vocational programme and trains daily with ex-professional ballet dancers Deborah Preece-Brocksom and Richard Leader.
Alfie showed an interest in dance four years ago, and has been taking recreational ballet, jazz and contemporary classes at The Dance Centre ever since.
When he is not at school or dance training, Alfie devotes some of his free time to dancing at local aged care centres and kindergartens as part of The Dance Centre’s Outreach Programme.
Alfie and fellow dance students give free performances to audiences who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a ballet production. Alfie is a founding member.
“It just makes me feel so good when little kids and old people love watching us perform. Dancing is not like a chore, it is just something I love doing,” Alfie said.
Alfie will travel to Melbourne on 13 April to attend the first of four workshops held at the ABS during the year.
