I had the chance recently to ask Cassie Pace some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Cassie is a fantastic dancer, she takes to the stage with incredible grace and poise. Her love for ballet is fantastic. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

Started ballet at the age of 3

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

Ablaze Dance Academy

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

For around 5 years now

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

Gaynor Minden

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

Before I could walk I always had an interest so my mum enrolled me at the very young age of 3

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

Esmeralda

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

Would love to work with Sydney Dance Company doing Contemporary

Q8: Do you have a favourite memory/moment in ballet?

Always when I’m with my friends and working with my amazing teachers

Q9: Who are your ballet roles models? Dancers that inspire you.

Autumn Miller, Misty Copeland

Q10: Best advice you’ve ever received from a teacher?

‘No one’s perfect’

Q11: Advise you’d give a young version of yourself?

Believe in yourself because you’ve got this

Q12: Best thing about being a ballerina?

Learning new steps which allows me to always be challenging myself

Q13: Hardest thing about being a ballerina?

Not giving up and persisting continuously

Q14: It seems like such hard work, did you ever have days growing up where you were like “ugh maybe I’ll just pick an easier career so I can be like a normal teenager”?

Yes 100%! As I’m currently completing the HSC, there has been many difficulties when trying to prioritise school as well as dance and even till this day there’s always the question of ‘will I ever make it?’

Q15: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical

Q16: Have you ever suffered a serious injury?

Torn a ligament in my foot is probably the most serious

Q17: What do you like to do when you aren’t dancing (your free time)?

I work between two casual jobs, in addition to studying for the HSC. Otherwise simply catching up with friends