Excelling on all levels

Dunedin ballerina Jordan Mullin, 16, had high hopes ahead of her 21 McDonald’s Ballet Scholarship contemporary and classical solos in the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House. Mullin, who moved to the Gold Coast last year to study at Mudgeeraba’s Prudence Bowen Atelier, said a win would mean her parents in New Zealand would not have to sell their home if she was successful in her Royal Ballet School (RBS) audition in November. And win she did, before a capacity crowd in Sydney Mullin was awarded the $15, scholarship, $3 cash prize and an array of other prizes. One of the judges, Australian Ballet artistic director David McAllister, said Mullin and the male recipient of the second scholarship, Evan Loudon, had excelled at every level of the competition. The experience of dancing in front of more than 2 people at the Opera House was a “big jump” from Dunedin competitions she was more used to competing in, Mullin said. “I almost didn’t walk out on stage, I was that nervous.”