Article by Maya Haridas for En Avant Mar-Apr 2024
Sanvitti Sai Roopesh
At the time of interview, Sanvitti was 11 years old, in Grade 1 Ballet and had been learning ballet at TLFCB for 6 and a half years. As of now, she is in Grade 3 and 4 Ballet, and has also attended Australian Ballet School’s Summer Intensive in 2025, and Joffrey’s Summer Intensive. Next, she is headed to Dutch National Ballet Academy’s Intensive in August. She aspires to become both a zoologist and a ballerina.
Swapna Roopesh
Sanvitti’s mother Swapna is a Public Health Researcher and Consultant. She works with National and International agencies that support patients and families with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
How and why was the decision taken to go to the Australian Ballet School Summer Program taken?
Sanvitti – I first got to know about the Summer School in The Ballet Bulletin that was sent out on my class WhatsApp group. It really excited me as it was a chance to explore the ballet world beyond TLFCB. Such opportunities are limited in India and I was eager to experience what ballet schools outside my country had to offer.
Swapna – For the past six years, Sanvitti has loved getting trained in ballet, and now, it is an integral part of her routine. My husband and I are not versed in the vocabulary of ballet or other dance forms. Often, when Sanvitti excitedly speaks about her ballet classes, we smile and nod our heads while secretly struggling to relate or understand. With time, we were able to catch up with some of the ballet jargon through her.
At her age, Sanvitti has shown immense dedication and punctuality, often to the length of yelling at us to ensure we leave home on time for her ballet class. She asked us if she could attend the Australian Ballet School (ABS) Summer Open Program after reading about it on TLFCB’s WhatsApp group. So we used this opportunity for her to explore what life would look like for someone who pursued ballet.
Not only does the summer intensive give her the chance to explore other dance forms but it also does not require an audition. Missing a week from school seemed feasible for her. Miss Yana shared her experience at the ABS Summer School and agreed that the program would be a valuable opportunity for Sanvitti to explore. She also cautioned Sanvitti about the level of commitmentmrequired by an intensive program. Sanvitti expressed her readiness to Miss Yana. Despite not fully understanding what to expect, we decided it was worth exploring.
What did you expect?
Sanvitti – I knew the teachers would be super professional and I was excited to meet dancers from all over the world. Ballet was pretty much the same but other dances like contemporary, jazz and character were really different from ballet. I didn’t expect them to be related but still so different!
I was nervous before I left. But when I got there, I found the teachers and other students were
really nice and supportive. They made me feel welcome and I started to relax and have fun.
Swapna – We wanted Sanvitti to explore the ballet world outside of her bubble, experience different kinds of people, and soak in their cultures. I hoped she would learn about how other parts of the world function and have a vacation but with a purpose. Instead of simply booking a trip to Melbourne and posting about it on Instagram, she would go there with a specific goal. We wanted her to observe, interact, and learn from the diverse group of children attending the program regardless of whether she wanted to pursue ballet in the future.
Can you tell us a bit about your fellow students? Did you make any friends?
Sanvitti – Each student in the class had their own unique way of dancing. They were very kind and encouraging. Most of them were from Japan, a few from New Zealand and quite a few from Australia, of course. I did make one good friend. Her name is Queena and she’s from Melbourne. She’s really sweet and funny and she is very good at ballet and all the other types of dancing.
Where did you stay? Was it walking distance from Australian Ballet School?
Swapna – We chose to stay at Quest Southbank, the same place mentioned in the information provided by The Australian Ballet School. It was very convenient, safe, and was within walking distance from the school. The one-bedroom apartment we stayed in was fully
furnished and equipped with a kitchen, washer, dryer, and dishwasher. Staying there allowed us to live like locals despite being in a foreign country, which greatly contributed to our comfort and sense of settling in.
What about meals? Was food provided at the centre?
Swapna – No, meals were not provided at the centre. We had many Indian food options in Melbourne but I didn’t explore that. I didn’t want Sanvitti to fall sick. So all meals (except the three times we ate out) were home- cooked and packed in a lunchbox that I’d brought along. I’d send her lunch and a snack consisting of – lots of fruits, veggies, protein and Fast & Up (Fast & Up was Miss Yana’s tip. It was so relieving to have Miss Yana around. She helped ease Sanvitti’s anxiety a lot). Seven hours of dancing is a different level of physical exertion so it was essential to ensure that Sanvitti was properly nourished.
What was each day at the Summer School like?
Sanvitti – Arrival time was 9:45 AM. From 10:00 to 11:15, we had contemporary class. After that we had a 15 minute break. Next, from 11:30 to 12:30, we had character dance. Then we had a 30 min- ute lunch break. From 1:00 to 2:00 was clas- sical ballet. Then we had another 15 minute break and from 2:15 to 3:30, we had jazz.
Did you, as a parent, get to interact with the Summer school teachers or students? If yes, what was the experience like?
Swapna – I interacted very little with the students. My main interaction with them was only to click some pictures of them and Sanvitti. Most of the parents I interacted with were from Japan; they were also staying in the same apartment complex as us. These interactions were quite formal. The staff at the school were incredibly helpful. I was anxious about leaving Sanvitti at a new school and merely dropping her off at the gate each morning. To ease my worries, I visited the school a day in ad- vance. Miss Yana was there with us (Jazmine was attending the senior summer school at the same time) and she guided me and showed me around.
The administrative staff were particularly reassuring, emphasising that Sanvitti would be safe and well taken care of. Ms. Marijke Franken, who serves as both an instructor and as the Head Of Operations frequently responded to our inquiries before the program started. We had numerous questions about the schedule, breaks, uniform requirements, and other logistics, which they patiently addressed. I sent multiple emails beforehand to ensure we were well-prepared. The school admin even assisted us with visa-related matters by providing a letter confirming that Sanvitti would be attending their Summer School in Melbourne which we could include in our visa application. This level of support was invaluable and definitely eased our preparation process.
What was each class at the Summer School like?
Sanvitti – Contemporary was mainly about moving our spines smoothly. We focused a lot on back movements; it was interesting to try out these new moves and see how smoothly we could do them.
Jazz was enjoyable! We danced to lively music and the teacher even choreographed a piece for us. It was all about being upbeat and enjoying the rhythm.
Classical ballet was similar to what we do at TLFCB with a few differences. We had to do some warm-up exercises with bent legs, which was a bit surprising for me. And some exercises were done without the barre, which was also challenging at first. But I got used to it eventually.
The jumps were similar to what we do here, but we focused more on turns during the summer school. Learning turns was exciting because we don’t do them as much at home. The pirouette is my favourite turn (and step) that I learned at Summer School. The teachers focussed a lot on our performance quality so that we would be able to look graceful and stand out on stage no matter our grade or technique level.
Character dance felt like a blend of tap dance and ballet. I really enjoyed wearing the long character skirts, which were a lot of fun to dance with! We also learned a variation in the character class. Overall, the classes were a bit challenging at first, but I got more comfortable with them as I practised. While I enjoyed trying out all the different dance styles, classical ballet remained my favourite throughout the summer school.
On the last day, the jazz teacher asked us to perform our jazz piece in front of the other students. I was surprised because I didn’t even know we were going to perform, but once I got there, I felt confident and performed in front of the other Summer School batches. It turned out to be an unexpected rewarding experience. Jazzie and the rest of the seniors then performed for us. They did a contemporary piece and I really enjoyed watching it. Their movements were smooth and graceful, and it was inspiring to see how they danced with such ease.
What did you do in the evenings? Did you explore the city?
Swapna – Yes, we certainly did! Melbourne tends to close quite early, which was a drawback for us. However, we tried to make the best of our time. After Sanvitti’s classes ended at 3:30, she would be quite tired after the long day of dance but she was always super enthusiastic to go out and explore. She’d freshen up quickly, grab a quick bite and we’d head out. My son played a crucial role in navigating us around the city, determining which bus or tram to take and when to leave. We had our destinations planned out meticulously, as most places closed by 5:00pm. One morning, we walked to the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance before dropping Sanvitti off at the school. We managed to explore numerous attractions, travelling not as tourists but as locals, using public transport. We also experienced the unpredictable Melbourne weather, which seemed to encompass all four seasons within our short stay. Unfortunately, we missed out on attending a documentary reflecting the lives of Australian aborigines recommended by Miss Yana, as the tickets were sold out by the time we arrived. However, we made the most of our Sunday by visiting the extensive and beautiful Werribee Open Range Zoo, which delighted Sanvitti, who aspires to become a zoologist.
Sanvitti, could you tell us if any aspects of your dancing have grown, now that you’re back in classes in India after the Summer School?
Sanvitti – Since I used to dance for 5.5 hours a day during the program, after I returned to India, I found myself wanting to do more even here. This made me realise that I needed to join additional classes and practise more. Also, my time coordination with the music improved significantly. And I noticed that my hand movements had become more precise and refined. Our classical ballet teacher at the Summer School emphasised perfecting hand positions, and I felt that this improvement was evident when I returned to my regular classes.
Do you have any learnings to share with other Ballet parents/students who might be considering the Australian Summer School?
Tips for parents from Swapna – Of course. When we decided to attend, I wished there had been another TLFCB parent accompanying me. Having someone to share the experience with would have been reassuring. However, hopefully these tips will help other parents feel
a little more prepared for the Summer School than I did!
– The visa application was relatively smooth, compared to other countries. I had an agent who assisted with the paperwork, making the process seamless. Procuring a letter from the Australian Ballet School to submit with the visa application is helpful too.
– Booking flights in advance helped us save money, which I highly recommend.
– One tip I’d like to emphasise is the importance of registering early. The summer school seats fill up rapidly, even for those travelling from afar. We missed out on the first week because we delayed registering, which would have been more convenient for us due to school holidays. So my advice is to register as soon as possible to secure your preferred dates.
– Also, thorough research and planning are essential, especially regarding transportation and accommodation. Involving your child in the planning process can also make things easier and more enjoyable.
– When it comes to packing, I recommend bringing a few leotards and stockings, but you can purchase high-quality dancewear at the Bloch store and the prices are comparatively reasonable. It is a good idea to get some dancewear shopping done while you’re there.
– Remember to pack ballet shoes, and if your child is accustomed to dancing in jazz or contemporary shoes, it’s advisable to bring those along as well.
Overall, having a vacation with a purpose allows you to immerse yourself in the city and feel like a part of it rather than just a tourist, which is enriching and rewarding.
Tips for Students from Sanvitti –
– Always organise yourself and plan in advance. Make sure you are at the school on time (if not a little early!) If you arrive late you might feel a bit stressed and will not be able to give your full concentration in the classes.
– Make sure you find out what dancewear and shoes you need before you leave and buy anything that you don’t own. I realised I needed a character dance skirt only after I reached there. Thankfully we were able to buy it in the morning from a nearby Bloch store but knowing what you need and collecting it all in advance will help you to not feel stressed and to feel calm and well prepared.
Even though it’s not common for TLFCB students of my age to go for this program, I am so happy to have got this experience and I look forward to manynmore. Even if it feels like a big step to take and feels a bit scary, don’t worry. After the first day of getting used to things, you’ll soon get comfortable and begin having a great time! The teachers were really kind and paid attention to every single student. They encouraged us if we weren’t feeling confident and gave us time to understand the steps properly before performing them. And of course, when you come back to India, you’ll find yourself so much more confident in class and you’ll be able to pick up new steps/fast exercises way faster than before!
I would definitely recommend the Australian Ballet School Summer School to my friends from class and my fellow students. It was a wonderful week and I hope to see many of you there (or at other intensive programs around the world) in the future!
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