Toowoomba ballet dancer Brianna Skehan set to perform at Empire Theatre after performing across the world

For as long as she can remember, this driven Toowoomba woman has wanted to dance professionally. Now, after leaving school and making several sacrifices, she is living out her dream and performing on the global stage. Details here.

Few teens would have the courage and determination to leave school to pursue dancing professionally, but the decision was well worth it for Brianna Skehan, who is now living her dream.

Dancing since the age of three, the talented Toowoomba woman first trained under Cam Newell through the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company until the age of 12.

It was then Ms Skehan made the difficult decision to leave Centenary Heights State High School in year 8, and begin training full-time in dance at the Queensland National Ballet School.

Toowoomba's Brianna Skehan is living out her dream as a professional dancer and is set to perform in her hometown. Picture: Supplied

Training for at least six hours daily and six days a week, while completing her education online, Ms Skehan said despite the sacrifices she has made, she would not trade her career for the world.

“The commitment to ballet means sacrificing a regular childhood and teen life and missing events such as birthdays, formals and all those experiences … plus living away from family is tough,” she said.

“When auditioning for schools, pre-professional, and companies, it can be really difficult emotionally to manage the knock-backs, but I have learnt they do not define me as a dancer.

“I love being able to move an audience to feel a certain emotion (and) I’ve also learnt so much about myself and my body through dancing.”

Toowoomba's Brianna Skehan is living out her dream as a professional dancer and is set to perform in her hometown. Picture: Supplied

The now 18-year-old relocated to Milan in Italy this year, where she began training at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala.

Travelling across the globe, Ms Skehan has performed at the World Congress for the International Dance Council in Greece, the Houston Ballet Summer Intensives and the Ballet International Gala.

She has also completed auditions and workshops in Italy, London, Belgium, Switzerland, Toronto and across Australia.

Now, the young Toowoomba woman is set to return to her hometown of Toowoomba to perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Queensland National Ballet School and Ballet International Gala’s The Nutcracker.

Toowoomba's Brianna Skehan is living out her dream as a professional dancer and is set to perform in her hometown. Picture: Supplied

“I’m so thrilled to be performing in my home town for friends, family and the community,” she said.

“I am also touring with the Ballet International Gala and performing various roles in The Nutcracker for shows in the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Newcastle, and Melbourne.”

Working towards gaining employment through an international ballet company, Ms Skehan said she also wanted to teach the art of dance to young people and inspire others who share her dreams.

The Nutcracker production will be at the Empire Theatre on December 12 at 7pm.

For more information visit empiretheatre.com.au