FINALS!!!

There was no ways that I could believe that I made it to the Finals! That morning I woke up really tired as we had had # really hectic days of non stop dancing. we got up and went to class at 9 am. There were only 4 of us that decided to do class; myself, Luisito, Miles and Paulina. Was pretty cool to have a small class with Anton Boytsov. After class we picked up our costumes and went straight to the Dailes Theatre to place Satenella. Immediately when you walked into the theatre you could feel the pressure!!! We placed Satenella and practised a few things that we needed to practice. By this time it was about 13:30 and we were starving. So James and Luisito went to Hesburger (like Mac Donalds but WAY better) and bought take away. We sitting in the waiting area eating our burgers and all the dancers would look at us really weird and others would laugh, some people actually took pictures of us! I guess ballet dancers don't eat burgers here, that's probably why they are SO thin!

I went to rest for a bit and then had to go to the very intense change room to do my hair and make-up. Thank goodness I have and I-pod!!! So when I was ready, I went to go warm up quickly as they were running 30 minutes early. Put on my point shoes and then my beautiful tutu that Alice kindly let me use! She is a lovely dancer from the our Academy back in South Africa. Her mom is the fantastic lady that made all my costumes.

So as always I had to wait back stage, hear variation after variation, hear the audience go wild and keep calm. It was truly difficult and I think I let the nerves get to me this time. Well now it was my turn, they announce "and from South Africa, number 41, Jessica Overton and Luis Javier performing Satenella". Wow I really felt like I was about to be ill... The music started and then it began. I really enjoyed it, but a few things went wrong, which I'm sure were due to the nerves and being really tired. But I just carried on like nothing happened and carried on giving it my best. The audience seemed to enjoyed it. 

After the performance we went back to the hotel and showered and relaxed. Luisito came rushing into the room and told us the results were downstairs. The list was up and I placed 6th, which I was happy with considering the competition was very high. Luisito got a special prize, which was the audience favourite! Well done! With all that energy the people right at the back o the theatre can feel his energy (",).

3rd place was shared between Miles Gilliver (England) and Jolanta Lubeja (Latvia), 2nd went to Annja Kostale (Latvia) and first place went to....... Daria Elmakova (RUSSIA). Wow these dancers are amazing! Miles is going to the Birmingham Royal Ballet in August, Jolanta is a soloist at the Latvian National Opera, Annja could do 5 pirouettes and when we congratulated her on her pirouettes she said "oh thank you, but they were ok" and we asked her why she wasn't happy with them and she told us that on a good day she does 8 pirouettes! WHAT!!! Then the winner, Daria she performed the Black Swan pas de deux in the Final round, the only word I can use to describe it is... W O W!!!

It was such an amazing honour to be a part of the finals. The judges only choose the top 30% of the best dancers. I was up against people who are going to be the worlds next great dancers! The one girl Veronika Ignatyeva (the one I mentioned that was so flexible), well James didn't want to tell me during the competition, but she is at the BOLSHOI Ballet!!! That is one of the best companies in the entire world!!! I can believe I really did dance with dancers who are members and soloists of the best companies in the world! I really can't believe it! I honestly proved something to myself... I am a good dancer, I never ever thought I was.