Career Development Plan - Cecchetti Summer School

by Christina Amanda Freya Smallman
(Wiltshire)

Career Development Plan - Cecchetti Summer School

Dear Team Odette,
I have recently been invited to attend Cecchetti Summer School from 27th of July to the 2nd August. 5 gifted and talented pupils have been chosen (including me) by our teacher, and I am just asking if you could give me some advice as on how I need to be prepared and basically what I will be expecting throughout the week.
I also have a couple of questions to ask:
Can people get a schlorship through going to a Summer School or do you have to attend an audition?
I am 14 years old in August and I am just wondering what the ideal weight is for a ballerina of my age, I am also in Grade 4 and I am just curious to know if I should be in a higher or lower grade?
I have been dancing ballet since I was 2 and3\4 and I dream to be a ballerina and that is all I have ever wanted to do.........
I am looking forward to hearing from you
Yours faithfully,
Christina

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Reply by Odette
To:- Career Development Plan - Cecchetti Summer School

Hi Christina,
Thank you so much for your message, I'm really pleased you contacted me and found my site. We must keep in touch! I apologise for my delay in getting back to you, I have been busily writing my new eBook "7 Virtues of a Professional Dancer", which I will explain more about to you later.

Firstly, that is very impressive you got chosen to attend the summer school. This instantly tells me how serious and gifted you are, so I must do my best to guide you forward. From what I have experienced, people can get a scholarship from both an audition and having previously attended the summer school. However, it is more rare and very fortunate to be given a scholarship but it certainly is possible.

In Virtue 7:Savvy I dedicate a big part of this eBook to summer intensives and how to be the dancer everyone remembers. Therefore, this virtue is absolutely ideal for you. Of course, the whole set will inform you of everything you potentially want to know in pursuing your talent. But your summer school is shortly approaching, so I advise you to buy the Virtue 7:Savvy first to get you fully prepared. Each virtue is just $2.99 (which is just under £2) and it lets you have all the advice in one place for you to read over & over again. Trust me, it will instantly solve a lot of your worries and set you up above the rest for your summer intensive.

It would be very hard for me to give an ideal weight for you, but I can tell you there is much more to your success in ballet than just your looks or weight in ballet. The physicality of a ballerina is extremely important, but this comes down to more factors like your facility, strength and technique. Perhaps after your summer course (or if you have time before) you can look at getting Virtue 3:Physicality. Here, I talk through the essential methods to transform your body into one of a professional ballerina.

Don't begin to doubt yourself, even if you should be in a higher or lower grade. I am not sure to be quite honest, but for your summer course, it doesn't neccessarily matter which grade you are at in order to do well. You are going into the summer course as a fresh face and a new dancer, so you must give them your fullest attention and put your 'mind' in the right game. Of course, you have to push your ability to dance but this will stimulate from you being focused, confident and assured.

Show the teachers at the summer course how passionate you are and push yourself beyond what you think you are capable of.

Keep in touch! Let me know how it goes and feel free to ask any last minute questions before you go!

Best wishes,
Odette