IT'S been nearly two years since Mount Beauty local Axel Mero left Australia after being accepted into The Royal Ballet School in London but he was back home last week for a short holiday.
After successfully completing his first year and obtaining his high school certificate at the Royal Ballet School 'White Lodge', originally King Henry VIII's hunting lodge, Axel passed an audition to the Royal Ballet Upper School at Covent Garden in London, securing two years minimum at the Upper School.
"It is a foundation degree, and I hope to complete a third year, which is by invitation only," Axel said.
"This would provide me with a Batchelor degree with honours in Classical Dance.
"I will know early next year if I have been successful in completing a third year.
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"The life of a dancer is one where you have to continually prove yourself, however, it's a lifetime dream coming true."
The Royal Ballet School assist students with portfolios, videos, photos and more to ensure they are in the best position to find work offers for current graduates were at 100 per cent.
"I have a plan B should I not be accepted into the Royal Ballet Company, including applying to the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and the Dutch National Ballet to name a few," he said.
"I also have a keen interest in interior design, and I am completing a diploma in that subject alongside my degree.
Alex's ballet idol is William Bracewell, principal at the Royal Ballet, and his dream role is playing Romeo, and current favourite ballet is Manon, devised by Kenneth Macmillan.
A highlight for Axel was being given tickets to performances, and recently he was in the audience near King Charles III and Queen Camilla for a performance of Sleeping Beauty.
It's a five and a half day week at the Royal Ballet School with a tight schedule of academic ballet history, Pilates, rehearsals and more starting at 8.30am and going until 5.45pm although he does have a break every three weekends to visit his Guardian Family in Doncaster.
"It was a stretch for me to leave home at 15 years, and I have experienced home sickness from time to time, however, my mother and sister are just two hours away now living in Innsbruck in Austria," he said.
"I would also to express my thanks to my long–term supporters, Rhonda Ghargan and Ken Harvey, to the Mount Beauty Lions Club, the Mount Beauty and District Bendigo Bank through the Susie Cohn Scholarship, individuals from the Mount Beauty Rotary Club, and for the endless love and support from all my friends and family."
