5 minutes with our Courier Classic Ballet Champion from 2019 – Paige Ristevski

How has 2020 impacted your dance training? Have you been doing online sessions?

2020 has been a roller-coaster of a year! With COVID-19 restrictions becoming more intense towards the end of term 1 we had to move to online learning. I had mixed emotions about this because it meant I was able to go home to my family but it also meant dancing out of the garage for a few weeks. Luckily by the middle of term 2 we were able to go back to face to face learning. I never knew how much I would miss dancing in a big studio space and not in a square meter of tarkett! 

What school do you attended?  

This year I began training in level 2 at Queensland Ballet Academy, although this year did not go as I imagined it to be like I have absolutely loved the QBA tuition. The environment is so inviting and the training has helped me broaden my artistic and technical knowledge.

How did it feel, winning The Courier Classic Ballet Championship in 2019?

Winning The Courier Classical Ballet Championship in 2019 was the most surreal experience.  I will never forget when I completed my solo and the feelings of being proud of my performance and just taking in and enjoying the energy from the audience. I really could not have done it without my teachers from Expressions Ballet Academy and my family, this performance has been one we will treasure forever. 

What advice do you have for other dancers wanting to compete in the Courier Classic Ballet Championships?

My advice to dancers wanting to participate in The Courier Class Ballet Championship would be to enjoy the moment. You have put in so many hours in the studio perfecting steps and the solo over and over again, so enjoy every minute being on stage and take in the experience. 

How have you continued to train and keep positive through 2020?

Throughout this year we’ve been keeping our training up by participating in online classes during the isolation period, fortunately we are back in the spacious studios now but I learnt a lot from dancing in the garage. When in isolation I had to keep reminding myself what’s to come when things are back to normal because it was very easy to slip into a negative mindset.  I took this time to focus on the little, intricate things that needed fixing as there was a lot of time but very little room to move around in.