AFTER spending my formative years on a clear trajectory towards a professional ballet career, I wasn’t certain if I would make it in the industry.
The odds of success were lower as I did not grow up within the ballet circuit in countries such as the United Kingdom, where there are more opportunities.
Nonetheless, I continued to pursue my dream and achieved several milestones, including being one of the few Malaysians selected to attend UK summer schools through auditions and receiving awards as an adolescent.
These accomplishments became stepping stones to continuing my ballet training at a pre-professional ballet school in London.
Joining as an aspiring dancer at 16 years old, I knew I had a long journey ahead. Despite being mentally prepared, I realised that I had underestimated the challenges I would experience over the next three years.
One significant challenge was an injury during my second year of training. Having been fortunate never to have been injured before, I was shocked when it first happened.
Although my passion and motivation for dancing were typically unwavering, this injury truly tested my love for the art form.
Sitting on the sidelines and watching my peers continue to progress while feeling like I was falling behind was difficult to accept.
After months of being undiagnosed and attending appointments with specialists, I was finally diagnosed with iliopsoas bursitis.
Receiving this confirmation provided clarity but it also meant that continuing to dance carried a higher risk of injuring myself again, potentially requiring surgery and a longer recovery time.
Hearing this was heartbreaking, and I had to reevaluate my decision about pursuing a dance career after graduation.
It took me months to reach a final decision; during this time, I auditioned for junior companies in professional dance companies throughout the UK to see if I could continue my dance career.
While I was grateful to receive some offers, my injury worsened during preparations for my school’s summer performances.
It was at that defining moment that I decided it was best to move on, though it was not an easy decision.
However, this motivated me to make the most of my remaining months of dance training by focusing on mobilisation and strength training to rebuild the strength I had lost during my injury.
Those final months of training left an everlasting mark on my dance journey. They made my graduation worthwhile, and I successfully earned a professional dance and performance degree in July 2022.
After discussing with my family and friends, I decided to move back home to pursue my academic studies by joining a foundation programme specialising in business.
Being home with my family provided the additional support I needed for this transition. During this time, I excelled at my studies, took part in events and clubs, and had the opportunity to represent my class as a student representative.
I am currently in my first year of the UK transfer business programme and plan to return to the UK soon to continue my undergraduate studies in accounting and finance.
The transition to studying an academic course has brought its fair share of challenges over the last year and a half, but it has undeniably been the best decision for me.
To young readers who have not yet been able to pursue their dreams, here is your reminder to never lose hope!
As the famed inventor and scientist Alexander Graham Bell said, “When one door closes, another opens.”
Just as one opportunity may not have been meant for you, another incredible opportunity may be on the horizon. By sharing my experience of perseverance and resilience, I hope to inspire others to learn from it and remain hopeful.
Dhanushkaa, 21, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
