Isaac Shaw knows a life in ballet is what he wants, and he is determined to achieve it.
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So much so, the 16-year-old from Nelson Bay moved to Sydney at the start of the year to further his education and training. And in September, he will go one step further.
He will move to London and take up a spot at the English National Ballet School.
“I’m excited for the next step,” Isaac said. “At the end of my training I’d like to work in an English ballet company; it’s a major dream of mine.”
Isaac said there was more career opportunities for professional classical ballet dancers “abroad” than there is in Australia, which is why he is making the move.
Isaac took up ballet six years ago, following in the footsteps of his three older sisters who are professional dancers.
Two of his sisters moved to London and Canada when they were the same age to pursue their careers in dance.
He was a student at the National College of Dance in Lambton, formerly known as the Marie Walton Mahon Dance Academy, before moving to Sydney earlier this year.
In Sydney he trains at an elite selective classical coaching academy called Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy.
“I thought the training and opportunities were better in Sydney,” Isaac said. “I wanted to further my career and thought that was the best fit.”
The move gave him the opportunity to work with The Australian Ballet company and take part in its production of The Nutcracker.
He applied for the 2017 Sydney Eisteddfod Ballet Scholarship and was selected as a finalist.
From 150 ballet dancers from around Australia that applied, Isaac was selected in the final eight. He will perform in the eisteddfod final at the Sydney Opera House concert hall on July 30. The event is already sold out.
The top prize for the outright eisteddfod winner is $18,000, which would go a long way to helping Isaac move to the UK in September.
“I love the way it feels to be on stage,” Isaac said.
“I love the movement, and showing different emotions through movement. I’m a bit of a perfectionist which fits because in ballet you need to be perfect.”