Brisbane-based student Aeden Pittendreigh (19) has been awarded the prestigious Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship in ballet for 2012. Aeden began his dance training at the age of five and is currently in his second year of training at the English National Ballet School in London. Aeden will use his handsome scholarship amount of $20,000 to attend ballet auditions all around the world, with the aim of securing a contract with a professional ballet company in 2013.
The judge was ex-principal dancer Robert Olup. “Being awarded this scholarship will assist Aeden in gaining his ultimate goal of becoming a professional ballet dance,” he said. “There’s a very special quality to Aeden’s dancing, and it is our strong opinion that he would be a welcome member of any professional ballet company.”
The Marten Bequest scholarships are awarded annually in the fields of Architecture, Ballet, Instrumental Music, Poetry and Prose.
Look out for an interview with Aeden in the June/July issue of Dance Australia.