Wānaka ballerina Isabel (Izzy) Martin made the finals at a prestigious competition in Sydney, the Youth Grand Prix Senior Classical Division, last weekend.

Izzy was one of 24 selected from approximately 150 young dancers around Australia and New Zealand to dance in the final round, as well as receiving a call back for the scholarship class.

“Taking part in YGP Sydney was amazing,” Izzy told the Wānaka App.

“There was such a positive atmosphere even though it was really nerve wracking and I made lots of new friends. It has made me even more determined to train harder with my dancing.”

Izzy’s mother, Wānaka dance teacher Briony Martin, said Izzy did a great job competing in her first big international competition among talented dancers from Australia and New Zealand. 

“It was a huge achievement to have been selected for both the senior women’s final round (24 dancers) as well as the scholarship call back class,” Briony said.

“It has been a huge year of travel and training for her to increase her ballet training from home in Wānaka where she is a Year 10 student at Mount Aspiring College.”

Izzy by Sydney Harbour.

Isabel took part in ballet and contemporary masterclasses which were judged as well as performing a Classical solo (La Esmerelda) and a contemporary solo choreographed by Nina Fischer. 

“It was a huge and quite terrifying experience at times… but was helped along by the support of her friends and family cheering her on from home in Wānaka,” Briony said. 

Isabel studies ballet, contemporary and jazz at Centralpoint Dance Studios, recently receiving Distinction for her final Advanced 2 Royal Academy of Dance Examination. She often travels to Wellington to train at the NZ School Of Dance as a National Scholar and Intermediate Classical Associate. 

She was also selected to take part in the Royal New Zealand Ballet National Mentor Programme and is currently in Wellington for a two-day intensive with her mentor and the company, taking classes in the St James Theatre.

PHOTOS: Supplied