If a young dancer shows talent, her teacher might suggest to her parents that she audition for a professional ballet programme. In Canada, there are professional programmes at the National Ballet School in Toronto, The Professional School of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and in Montreal at L' cole superieur des Grands Ballets Canadiens. A ballerina's life is not all glamour, bouquets, standing ovations and glittering parties. The discipline and hard work continue throughout her career. Each day, a ballerina must attend daily class and then have a full day of rehearsals.
Many ballerinas also travel around the world as guest artists with other companies.
They often live out of suitcases and are on long and difficult schedules. But the artistic stimulation of working within a ballet company and meeting and working with great artists provides a unique and wonderful working environment. The creative process of learning and creating in the studio is very exciting and involves hours of intensive work. The final reward is being on stage in front of a live audience. Like those of male dancers, ballerinas' careers are short.