Dancer fulfils dream with leap to ballet company
Ellen Irvine, Bay of Plenty Times, 16 January 2010
When Katherine Grange learned she'd won a position with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, her ballerina poise went out the window.
"I ran around screaming! That was pretty exciting news," Miss Grange said.
Joining the company last week was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for the 20-year-old former Otumoetai College student.
"I've been dancing since I was 4 and I have loved it pretty much my whole life. I have always wanted to come here.
"I have been watching the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform for years, and now I dance with them full time.
"It's crazy to think of it as a job, as it's so fun and exciting."
"It's crazy to think of it as a job, as it's so fun and exciting."
It's the latest in a string of achievements for Miss Grange, who spent three years at the New Zealand School of Dance.
Last year she won second place at the Alana Haines Australasian Awards, and in 2008 she won first place at the NZ National Ballet Awards.
Her contract with the Royal New Zealand Ballet was part of a scholarship she was awarded at the School of Dance.
Miss Grange confessed to be being nervous before she started with the company, but was enjoying her new role so far.
"There's a lot of hard work involved, and a lot of luck.
"It's pretty nerve-wracking to have to learn two of the new pieces for the next season.
"I've made a lot of friends already. Everyone is pretty down to earth and got a good sense of humour."
"It's pretty nerve-wracking to have to learn two of the new pieces for the next season.
"I've made a lot of friends already. Everyone is pretty down to earth and got a good sense of humour."
Every day is physically demanding, with the dancers packing in a warm-up, class and three rehearsal sessions.
They also have a class on Saturday, "to keep your body in shape".
"You've got to be pretty fit to deal with it every day, and know how to look after yourself at the end of the day, like not going for a run.
"Especially on a Monday when you do have enough energy, you have to ration your energy through the week.
"You've got to be sensible about [nutrition] - not eating crap, and really knowing what you need to be able to dance.
"You've got to know your body - you've got to eat enough to not get headaches, but you can't have too much to not be able to move, but to be able to dance."
Miss Grange is already in rehearsals for the Royal New Zealand Ballet's season of From Here To There, which opens in Dunedin on February 25.
Although the tour will not come to Tauranga, Miss Grange expected her family to travel to Auckland or Hamilton to see her perform.
The dancer, who spent 10 years learning her craft at the Dance Education Centre in Matua, dreams of starring in Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty.
"I love the real classical ones.
"But I also love learning new choreography, the 21st century neo stuff.
"You can really extend your dance vocabulary, and do new things with your body."
Her goal is to one day dance in Europe.
"I want to dance at lots of different companies and see where it takes me.
"I just want to see what happens and enjoy the ride."
The TOWER Season of From Here to There opens on 25 February in Dunedin and tours to Invercargill, Christchurch, Hastings, Hamilton, Auckland and Wellington.
