Ella lands starring role in Cinderella

Ella Hawkins’ dream of playing a main role in a major stage production is about to come true when she steps onto the stage in Ballet Theatre of Queensland’s production of Cinderella at QPAC in a few days’ time.
Ella has been a student of The Dance Centre Peregian Springs since she was six-years-old and now, at the age of 14, will finally realise her dream to dance for the Ballet Theatre of Queensland.
Ella will play one of Cinderella’s stepsisters and will be on stage with another student from The Dance Centre who also successfully auditioned for a part in Cinderella, Mei Mei Tan.
Ella’s skill, strength, rhythm, poise and outstanding technique made her a stand-out when she auditioned for a role in Cinderella in March 2016.
Throughout her training, Ella has combined her love of and dedication to classical ballet with an equal love of classical music and will soon sit her Grade 6 Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) piano exam in 2017.
“The two arts complement each other. My feel and understanding of music helps me with my dance rhythm and expression,” Ella said.
Ella started performing solos in ballet competitions when she was 8 and is now studying Vaganova Level 5 through the Vocational Programme at The Dance Centre.
This programme now has six students attending Australian Ballet School Interstate Programme, 3 in the Queensland Ballet Junior Extension Programme and has students with scholarships visiting the Royal Ballet School Summer Programme this year in England.
After Cinderella, Ella will be busy preparing to compete at the Alana Haines Australian Ballet competition to be held in New Zealand in Easter 2017.
Cinderella is on stage at QPAC for five shows from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 January.