TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Teen ballerina makes big strides at prestigious event
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: February 10, 2012
TAMPA - Hannah Bettes, a 15-year-old ballet student at the Patel Conservatory at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, placed second in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne ballet competition in Switzerland last week.
The Orlando resident also was awarded "audience favorite" at the 40th annual event.
"I was just happy to be in the competition," Bettes said. "I was very shocked and very surprised. When they called my name, I was like, 'Me?' I thought there was someone else named Hannah. I was extremely overjoyed it was me."
More than 200 dancers from around the world applied for a spot in the Prix de Laussane, known as the gateway to success for ballet dancers age 15 to 18.
Only 79 pre-professional young dancers were chosen to compete; six were Americans. Bettes was the only American dancer to earn a prize.
Bettes received a full scholarship plus a stipend to study at any of the top 30 ballet schools in the world. Bettes said she will attend The Royal Ballet School in London.
On Thursday, Bettes was recognized at the annual governor's Cabinet meeting at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. She also was invited to visit the state Capitol, where she will be recognized by the Legislature.
This month, Bettes will compete in the Cape Town International Ballet Competition in South Africa, a slot she earned after her gold medal finish in the junior age division at last year's Youth America Grand Prix competition in New York.
Bettes said she was influenced by her two sisters to begin dance when she was 8.
The soft-spoken ballerina said she never could have imagined she would excel as she has.
"Never in a million years would my 8-year-old self believe where I am now," she said with a laugh. "I still can't believe it."
ccabrera@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7656
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online ©2012 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General company. Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
