LADY OF THE DANCE

ANOTHER shining example of where talent, discipline and hard work can get you.

In the case of dancer Cleo Lewis that is on stage at the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris.

On Monday, a nervous but super excited Cleo packed her bags and jetted off to begin the adventure of her young life.

Her dance career began at the age of four with Joy Ransley and at 14 she moved to Dance Technique in Burleigh.

“As soon as I started to learn I was hooked,” Cleo said. “My focus was on being a ballerina, but I kept growing and at 178cm I knew I was too tall.

“When I was 15, my focus shifted to the Moulin Rouge. They sent people out here three years ago to audition dancers. I lied about my age to get in and had to confess at the end my real age and they told me to keep in touch.

“The funny thing was that Mum (Toni Mclean) was outside and asked how much longer it would be. They told her that if I was still in there, it was actually a good thing. My training continued and I was in the academic and dance program at Palm-beach Currumbin High School and graduated last year.”

Now 18, Cleo wrote to Paris, reminding them that she had auditioned before the Covid lockdowns and sent a show reel.

“I was ecstatic when I was accepted. There were only four dancers selected from around the world.

“I did go to a dance camp in New York with Mum in 2019 and saw and learnt a lot, but the Moulin Rouge was always my goal.”

In Toni’s mind her daughter will be OK: “She is very levelheaded and an incredibly hard worker – first to dance class and last to leave – and her academic scores were exceptional.

“The family will be going over in September to see her, but Paris is where she wants to be and we are so proud of her.”

From Palmy to Paris – it doesn’t get much better than that.