By XAVIER SMERDON
A TRUGANINA teenager with dancing skills that have taken her around the world is planning on a career in a very different field.
Montana Nicoloutsopoulos started learning how to dance when she was just two-years-old and at the age of 17 she has already started to conquer the world of ballet.
Studying Advanced Ballet and Tap Theatre with the Commonwealth Students and Teachers of Dance while also balancing her studies at Westbourne Grammar School, Montana has not let her busy schedule slow her down.
Late last month she was recognised with a Mayoral Youth Award, which came with a prize of $2500, for her achievements in dancing.
A highlight of her career was performing at Universal Studios in Los Angeles and Disneyland Anaheim opening for the World of Colours stage.
Montana said she loved the sense of escapism dancing gave her.
“I like the way you can express yourself and escape everyday life,” Montana said.
“It’s almost like living a second life.”
But while dancing may be her passion, Montana said she hopes to pursue a career in neuroscience.
“I’ve always been really interested in behaviour and how the brain works so I’d like to study that,” she said.
For now though Montana said she plans to focus on her dancing and complete all of her exams.
“I’d like to get into a major musical one day and maybe move into choreography, but I think neuroscience is definitely what I’d like to be doing as a job.”
