Dancer, 16, Gets a Chance at Pavlova's Academy
North London student Isabella McGuire Mayes to become youngest ever student of Kirov Ballet Company
A 16-year-old ballerina will become possibly the youngest ever British student of the Kirov Ballet Company when she takes her place at the Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg next week.
The Vaganova, which counts Rudolf Nureyev and Anna Pavlova among its former students, does not usually accept foreign students younger than 17 but made an exception for Isabella McGuire Mayes. Two Russian teachers saw her during a visit in May and recommended her to Altynai Asylmuratova, the director of the school and former leading ballerina at the Kirov.
Isabella, of Highbury, north London, who has studied at the Lower School of the Royal Ballet School for the past three years, said she was nervous but excited. "I have always wanted to go to the Vaganova," she said. "I just love their style and their elegance. I'm hoping to find my own artistic individuality."
An unremitting regime awaits her. For the next two years she will do six hours of ballet a day, with no break at Christmas - because of the possibility of performing in the Nutcracker at the Mariinsky theatre - no Easter holidays and no half terms.
"I'm expecting it to be difficult and I'm not afraid of that. I have always worked hard at my ballet," said Isabella, who began her ballet training aged eight.
Her long-term ambition is to join the Royal Ballet Company and "progress up the ranks".
The Vaganova, which counts Rudolf Nureyev and Anna Pavlova among its former students, does not usually accept foreign students younger than 17 but made an exception for Isabella McGuire Mayes. Two Russian teachers saw her during a visit in May and recommended her to Altynai Asylmuratova, the director of the school and former leading ballerina at the Kirov.
Isabella, of Highbury, north London, who has studied at the Lower School of the Royal Ballet School for the past three years, said she was nervous but excited. "I have always wanted to go to the Vaganova," she said. "I just love their style and their elegance. I'm hoping to find my own artistic individuality."
An unremitting regime awaits her. For the next two years she will do six hours of ballet a day, with no break at Christmas - because of the possibility of performing in the Nutcracker at the Mariinsky theatre - no Easter holidays and no half terms.
"I'm expecting it to be difficult and I'm not afraid of that. I have always worked hard at my ballet," said Isabella, who began her ballet training aged eight.
Her long-term ambition is to join the Royal Ballet Company and "progress up the ranks".
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