The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

National Ballet School a great opportunity for students, teacher saysContinued from page 26they really understand whats going on.I love dancing and I love singing and act-Despite losing her students to the nation-ing, she said. If I dont become a principalal ballet program, Dacyshyn said she sup-dancer, singing is definitely something Iports children who audition for the school.would go to.Its bittersweet because you want the best All three siblings said becoming a princi-for your dancers but its sad that I dont get to pal dancer is a goal they are striving for,teach them anymore . . . Its a great place for though they are aware of the difficulty to getthem. Its an opportunity that most kids so far in ballet.dont have. They should take advantage of it. You really never know at our age but youIts one of the best schools in the world if you hope for it. You work as hard as you can,want to be a classical dancer, she said. Of whenever you can and just hope for thecourse, I never want to lose students, but Im best, Olivia said.losing them to the best place they can be.They do have other interests as well.The National Ballet School is located in Olivia has begun doing choreography at thethe heart of Toronto. Its full-time program school. Furthermore, both she and herhas student cap of 24 per grade, and students MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVERbrother have an interest in science andmust be accepted to go on to further grades.PUPILS WITH TEACHER: Pictured l-r are Lecomte siblings Sebastian, Isabella and Olivia would consider pursuing that type of career.There are several other Allegro students with Allegro School of Dance instructor Laura Dacyshyn.The Lecomte siblings are also unsure of in this years summer program. They include where they got their talents. Both their par-courses. Furthermore, when a student is School is pretty understanding about theDasha Metropolitansky (Grade 5), Brianna ents work in the medical field and neither isaccepted into a performance, such as the homework situation when were rehearsing,Weber (Grade 9), Caragh O'Mahoney (Grade a dancer. Olivia tried dancing by chance atNational Ballet'sThe Nutcracker, there are Olivia said. We do have to get it done but8) and Abigail Bergman (Grade 6).the age of two, when she went with a friend,after school rehearsals on top of the regularand has done it ever since.load. Despite the heavy workload, Olivia saidI (got into dance) when I was really littleschool is still enjoyable.and then my brother asked for it and we justIts okay. Were doing what we love, sheput Bella in it, she said.said. We get to live what we dream.Days at the ballet school are long, whichThere is also support from the school toinclude dance instruction among regularhelp the students.Childrens book author holds signing at ChaptersAuthor Rocsanne Shield will be in OakvilleShield will be at the Chapters bookstore, this weekend signing copies of her chil-located at 310 North Service Rd., on Saturday, drens/young adult book, Save Magic City.July 9 from 1 to 4 p.m.2 Sizzling Summer Shows!JOHNNY WINTER August 3ALFIE ZAPPACOSTA August 4All performances are atTHE OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTSTo order tickets call: 905-815-2021 or 1-888-489-7784For more information go to www.oakvillecentre.ca27 Friday, July 8, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com