Ballet dream for our Billy Elliot

HIGH AMBITION: Ari Thompson demonstrates the skills that won him a place at the Australian Ballet School.

Sarah Harvey

JUST like the big-screen's Billy Elliot, Ari Thompson is set to leave his hometown to follow his dream of becoming a ballet dancer.

The 15-year-old has just been accepted into the Australian Ballet School after completing a gruelling round of auditions in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Ari is the son of former Ipswich federal MP Cameron Thompson and proud mum Sharen Thompson says ballet is her son's first love.

“He wants to be a dancer – he doesn't want to do anything else,” she said.

The Coalfalls teenager described his audition as “exhausting”.

“They had 28 kids from all around Australia in Melbourne,” he told The Queensland Times.

“They want to know how quickly you can take in the steps.”

Shayne McCormick Ballet Centre director Shayne White, Ari's teacher, said she was “pretty pleased” another of her star pupils was making the trek down south.

“The ballet school is where they all aspire to be,” she said.

“There they all want to be professional dancers.

“He's still got a long way to go but he's got the potential to do really well. He's got the right attitude and the love of ballet.

“I've pushed him pretty hard.”

Ms White's former student Rudy Hawkes is performing lead roles with the prestigious Australian Ballet Company.

Ari made a late start into ballet just three years ago, after taking lessons in jazz and tap from the age of 10.

He's achieved enormous success with Latin American dancing.

“He was the national ballroom champion in Canberra in June,” Mrs Thompson said.

“He and his partner have just come back from the NSW open – they came second and third there.

“He's got strong performance skills after doing eisteddfods in Ipswich since he was little.

“All those performance skills translate from one to another.”

Described as a ballet “prodigy” a year ago, Ari had successfully auditioned for a Ballet Theatre of Queensland production.

Mrs Thompson said Ipswich was a strong breeding ground for performers. The biggest challenge for her is keeping Ari interested in his school work as he pursues his ballet career.

He's excited about his Australian Ballet School acceptance.

“I was very happy. That's what I want to do,” he said.