JASMINE Bard had just a few days to prepare for the audition that would change her life.
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In the middle of her Higher School Certificate year, Jasmine caught the train to Sydney to vie for a place at the world’s most famous cabaret, the Moulin Rouge.
“I’d known about it my whole life but had never thought it was something I would ever be in,” she said.
“It was the most amazing audition I’ve ever done, I loved it so much.
“We had to use our personalities and technique and we did all the styles - lyrical, jazz, kicks and cartwheels - something I’d never done before.
“They kept cutting girls round after round and I thought ‘I’m actually getting through?’
“I thought no matter what the outcome, I’d had an amazing experience and it was a win-win.”
Fast forward 16 months and Jasmine, 19, has received a contract to join the company.
She will make her first international flight on February 1 and start a month of rehearsals on February 8.
Her role involves performing in two shows every night except for Sundays.
“I’m so excited - finally all my training and hard work has paid off and I will be able to put that into practice in a professional environment,” she said.
“Ever since I went for the audition it’s been something I’ve dreamt about.
“It feel so surreal I’ll be moving to Paris and living that dream.
“It’s going to be hard leaving my family and friends, but I’ve only got one life and this is an opportunity I just can’t miss.”
Moulin Rouge artistic director Janet Pharaoh said Jasmine “immediately attracted” her attention at the audition “because of her impeccable dance technique”.
“Along with her great dancing, a fabulous figure, bonny face and lovely personality she shone throughout the audition and has been at the top of my list since, I just had to wait for her to finish school but finally she is coming to join us in Paris.”
Jasmine started tap and jazz when she was four and moved to ballet and contemporary at about 11.
“As soon as I put on those dancing shoes I never took them off.”
She completed her HSC at Hunter School of the Performing Arts in 2016 and was offered places at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Victorian College of the Arts and Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London, but chose to train with Sydney Dance Company.
She completed a Diploma in Elite Dance Performance in 2017.
Over the past year she has danced from 9am to 4.30pm every weekday and taught dance on two afternoons a week, as well as for five hours on Saturday.
“Dancing is a big part of who I am and without dance I would feel like there would be something missing,” she said.
“I love being able to express myself through movement, tell a story and entertain people.
“There’s nothing like the feeling of performing on stage in front of an audience – nothing compares.
“That’s why I get up every day and train – to feel that at the end of the day.”
To donate to Jasmine’s journey: gofundme.com/my-moulin-rouge-dream