Holly’s our prima ballerina

She has been well and truly put through her paces to earn her place in the Australian Classical Grand Prix final and Mount Gambier ballerina Holly Allison is headed to Sydney at the end of this month to take her place in that final.

It was at the end of May that she competed in the semi finals of the competition, taking part in two masterclasses and performing her chosen variation as part of that process to advance to go head-to-head with the crème da le crème of the nation’s rising ballet stars.

It is just another feather in the cap of the aspiring professional dancer who has already built an impressive resume.

She has been part of the Australian Ballet School Interstate Program, won the 2023 Senior SADAS Classical Championship and her three-peat of Sir Robert Helpmann Championships from 2021-’23.

She has also performed as part of the Melbourne City Ballet’s The Nutcracker when it toured Mount Gambier and South East dancers were able to audition and form part of the cast and a few years ago Holly performed with her Victorian State Youth Ballet Company counterparts at Melbourne’s Karralyka Theatre in a production of Sleeping Beauty.

For Holly, it was love at first sight when it comes to ballet.

“I went to my first ballet class at Maryke Dance Academy with Miss Lockwood and just couldn’t wait to go back,” Holly said. “I found it really fun to go into class and enjoyed every aspect. I also like working hard in class and seeing the rewards that this hard work brings.”

And Maxine Lockwood, who has shaped the career of many an aspiring dancer, has been front and centre of Holly’s development.

“Miss Lockwood has also been in my shoes and went on to perform in the Royal Ballet so she knows the hard work it takes to fulfill my dreams,” Holly said. “I cannot thank her enough for all the training, time and effort that she puts into me’

“I also look up to Amy Harris who was a principal artist in the Australian Ballet until this year. Amy is also from a country town and competed at Eisteddfods that I now attend.

“This shows me that you can still be successful and have an amazing career even when you are from the country.”

It is all the motivation Holly needs to continue to pursue her professional dancing dream.

“Over the next few years I would like to take auditions at full time schools and get accepted into one of these schools,” she said. “Eventually moving into a company full time would be my ultimate goal.”