Ava Fuller, a 9-year-old ballet dancer from Muskoka Dance Academy (MDA), had the opportunity to audition for the National Ballet School in early February. She was selected to attend the school’s four-week summer intensive program in Toronto.
“This is such a special honour for Ava. Opportunities like this don’t come around too often,” said MDA owner Sue Kirwin-Campbell. This opportunity will allow Fuller to train with the best-of-the-best ballet teachers in Canada. And attending this summer program may give her a better chance when she auditions next year for the full program.
“I am confident Ava will have the experience of a lifetime this summer dancing with other young aspiring ballerinas from all over the world,” added Kirwin-Campbell.
Ava Fuller with Vera Timashova, teacher and audition scout of the professional ballet program at the National Ballet School on Feb. 1, 2020 (Brittany Fuller)
In addition to ballet, Fuller also trains in acro, tap, jazz, hip hop, technique, musical theatre, and aerial silks.
She began to dance when she was only three years old. She is a member of the Muskoka Dance Academy and has been competing since the age of six.
Ava trains 10 hours a week and is in the studio four days out of seven. “If she’s not at the studio, she is dancing at home, in the car, in the store or making up ‘dance shows’ with her brother and cousins,” said her mom, Brittany Fuller. “She has always wanted to dance. The studio is her second home.”
Ava is happy to be able to do something that is fun and that she loves to do while winning medals and different awards with her dance team.
“I have won lots of medals and overall awards and trophies with my team and I have my primary and grade 1 ballet certificates. Right now, I am working on my grade 2 ballet certificate and will take my exam in June,” said Fuller. Certification is through The British Association of Teachers of Dancing.
Ava Fuller ready for the MDA Christmas recital at the Algonquin Theatre (Brittany Fuller)
Getting accepted to the summer program at the National Ballet School has been one of Ava’s favourite dance moments thus far. “I am so excited to go to Toronto this summer and go to the summer program,” she said.
“I am proud of Ava for auditioning and having enough confidence in herself to take a chance. Who knows what doors this will open for her?” said Kirwin-Campbell.
Fuller has a passion for dance, just like Kirwin-Campbell. “Ava’s passion for ballet has been instilled from an amazing dance teacher from such a young age,” said her mom. “Her face just lights up on stage and she feels like that is where she’s meant to be.”
Ava Fuller (holding her invite to the National Ballet School summer intensive) with MDA owner Sue Kirwin-Campbell (@mda_dance / Instagram)
Fuller wants to perform well and to perfect her skills while at the summer program to give herself a leg up when auditioning for the full program. For now, her goal is to learn how to do the full frog, a type of dance stretch. She also dreams of dancing forever!
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