Bewdley ballerina is heading to Cannes
Graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School to study in France
BEWDLEY — Hard work has paid off for Bewdley dancer Saige Palleske.
Saige, 17, was offered a scholarship to attend the Centre International de Danse Rosella Hightower in Cannes, France, starting in September. She will enter year two of the three-year Diplôme National Supérieur Professionnel de danseur program in combination with attending Toulon University toward a degree in professional bachelor in multimedia creativity techniques. She auditioned in February at the school and learned she was accepted that same week. She was very excited.
“I almost started to cry,” she said.
Dance doesn’t run in Saige’s family. In fact her three siblings are each pursuing very different career paths — the oldest sister is in environmental science, her brother is studying to become a firefighter and the second youngest sister in basic military training. Saige is the youngest and made the move to Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) in Toronto when she was only 11 years old.
“Our parents said do what you love and we will support you,” said Saige.
Saige thanks her parents, Premiere Dance Cobourg where she got her dancing start, and NBS for getting her where she is today.
Her start in dancing came around four years old when her family noticed her walking gait was different. She flopped forward too much. Her doctor said she had extreme hyper mobility and suggested she study gymnastics or ballet to strengthen her muscles. She choose dance and while her loose joints are an advantage in flexibility, it also means she has to spend more time on strengthening exercises.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” she said.
She persisted and this spring Saige graduated as an Ontario Scholar (high 80s) from Grade 12 at NBS. She first auditioned for Grade 7 at the NBS and has been reaccepted to the school each year. Students are evaluated each year at NBS. NBS offers an elite and intense training regime in ballet and complimentary dance techniques, along with a full academic program. The daily schedule includes academics from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by dance from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., said Saige. It is a demanding schedule but it prepares students for the competitive nature of the dance world.
“It made me who I am today — it is a very valuable skill,” said Saige.
Some highlights of Saige’s time at NBS include playing the main role of Maria in James Kudelka’s National Ballet of Canada’s Nutcracker at the Four Seasons Theatre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, and also performing in several Canada’s National Ballet School gala and showcase events.
A summer exchange in New York City with faculty from Denmark’s Royal Danish Ballet School in Grade 10 sparked a desire to pursue a program in Europe after Grade 12 graduation.
The former C.R. Gummow student is fluent in French thanks to the school’s French immersion program. Last summer Saige attended her second summer exchange at the Centre International de Danse Rosella Hightower in Cannes, the same school she attends this fall. At the exchange she learned more contemporary styles of ballet and saw a NBS graduate who had become a very versatile dancer. That solidified Saige’s decision to apply for the school’s post secondary program.
A post secondary education helps dancers develop as entering a dance company is very demanding on the body. The additional training will help strengthen her body to prevent injuries.
“Injuries are a very real part of a dancers life," she said.
Saige returns to NBS for summer school this July and then will spend August preparing for the move to France. She will leave in mid August and take time to visit Paris with her mother before starting school in September.
Her fellow 22 graduating classmates are also going on dance or performing arts programs around the world. She will have one classmate join her.