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The offer is applicable to new bookings with non-stop flights in Economy Class on select Flight and Hotel packages and departure dates only, and with a minimum 7-night stay. Certain conditions apply. Lose Yourself For Less! BUY 1 SUNNY ESCAPE AND GET THE 2ND 50%OFF Suite 300, South Oakville Centre • 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville 905.827.1100 travel@mctavish.comwww.mctavishtravel.com CORPORATE • GROUP • LEISURE O nt R eg N o 14 37 98 5 50%OFF BOGO She was 10 and dancing the coveted role of Clara in The Nutcracker, when Ra- chel Mortensen realized she could accomplish any- thing she put her mind to. "That had been my dream role, and I wanted it very badly," said the now 16- year-old Oakville School of Classical Ballet (OSCB) student. Six years later, Rachel has gone from one enviable experience to another: she has been invited to Russia's famous Bolshoi Balletfamous Bolshoi Balletf Academy for this school year. "I'm so very excited for this opportunity because I know how amazing Bolshoi is and how incredible their training is, and I'm just so glad and thankful for this crazy adventure." To find her way to the prestigious Russian ballet school seemed an inevita- ble trajectory for the teen who began dancing at the age of three. "My parents have al- ways seen some sort of gracefulness since I was very young, therefore they decided to put me into bal- let and see how it turned out. I immediately loved it, though." She was always a bright child, eager to learn and ob- viously passionate about her dancing, said Amanda Paterson, OSCB's artistic director. When she chose the young dancer for the tech- nically demanding role of Clara, Rachel performed with amazing technical ability and acting skills, said Paterson. At the age of 12, Rachel was accepted into the Na- tional Ballet School sum- mer program, where she was immediately invited to join classes of students who were her senior, said Pater- son. Last year, Rachel was entered into the Youth America Grand Prix Com- petition, where she was awarded a place in the Bol-awarded a place in the Bol-a shoi Ballet Academy's Summer Intensive in New York City.York City.Y "The program was a month of intense training with Russian ballet mas- ters, in ballet, pointe, reper- toire, character and acting classes," said Paterson. After this expert train- ing program, Rachel was offered a position in the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, but because she was only 15, her parents felt she was too young. This summer, Rachel was once again invited to the Bolshoi's Summer In- tensive, and again, due to her high level of training, work ethic, commitment and her talent, she was in- vited to join the Academy in Moscow, said Paterson. Rachel has been work- ing diligently to complete some Grade 11 credits be- fore her departure mid-Oc-fore her departure mid-Oc-f tober, because her days at the Bolshoi academy will include only intensive bal- let and dance training and two hours of Russian every day, said Paterson. "I'm so excited to learn a third language. Russian has always been such a beautiful language to me, and I'm very excited to learn it." There is the possibility that Rachel could be invited back after this year to com- plete Bolshoi's three-year diploma training, but only Russian-speaking students are eligible, said Paterson. "Being able to graduate from Bolshoi Ballet Acade-from Bolshoi Ballet Acade-f my would be life-chang- ing," said Rachel. Once her training is complete, Rachel will audi- tion for dance companies worldwide or choose to dance with the Bolshoi Bal- let, said Paterson. "I would be glad to dance in any company that suits me, but I'm not certain on any, at the moment," Ra- chel said. "I'm keeping all options open." LOCAL BALLERINA HEADED TO PRESTIGIOUS BOLSHOI BALLET ACADEMY KATHY YANCHUS kyanchus@metroland.com Oakville's Rachel Mortensen, 16, will be attending the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy of Russia this month. She was offered this spot after attending the Bolshoi Ballet Academy's Summer Intensive in New York City this past summer. Nikki Wesley/Metroland NEWS