Biography

Isabella is a very gifted dancer with a wonderful natural facility for classical dance and a mature technique.

Brought up near Oban since the age of 4, Isabella started dance classes at Ballet West Taynuilt at the age of 8.  During her time there she passed all of her Royal Academy of Dance vocational grades with distinction.  She also performed in their annual touring productions of ‘The Nutcracker’, ‘Coppelia’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’. In 2011, she was part of a seven-week tour of China, performing the role of Clara as well as understudy for the role of Juliet.

In 2009, Isabella attended the International Summer School at the Royal Ballet School in Richmond. In 2010, she won first place for her level at the Royal Academy of Dance Senior Awards in the prestigious Genee Challenge in Edinburgh.

Isabella has attended a masterclass with Francesca Zumbo of the Paris Opera Ballet, who danced with Rudolf Nureyev when she was young.  She has also had the opportunity to work with and learn from her favourite dancer, Tamara Rojo; Royal Ballet Principal at the Royal Ballet Upper School in Covent Garden.

How the Award Helped

Isabella received a Dewar Arts Awards in 2011 to help her continue her dance studies at Ballet West. She has since received additional awards to support her flourishing talent.

Since the Award

In 2012 Isabella won the Molly Lake Award; a biennial ballet competition for young dancers.  She went on to gain a place at the English National Ballet School, and was granted additional funding from the Dewar Awards to continue her studies there.

Isabella is proving herself to be a dedicated, talented, and a quite exceptional dancer.

2014: Isabella writes “I am loving every moment of my studies at ENBS, and I feel a big difference in my dancing after just one term.  The academic aspect is thorough and rigorous – I thought I knew a lot about ballet until I started this course!  Most weeks, I am able to watch the dress rehearsals of performances by companies such as English National Ballet, Royal Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet.  My ambition is to be a professional ballet dancer, and I believe that I am in an ideal environment in which to train towards my goal.  I love my school, and I know that the staff will constantly challenge me and prepare me as well as is possible for a career in ballet.”

Sept 2014: Bronze Medallist at Genée International Ballet Competition