By Amanda Estes
Staff Writer
    Although she’s not yet old enough to drive, Arianna Lawson of Scarborough, has her sights set on New York City. More specifically, the 13 year old wants to perform with the New York City Ballet. As a current student of the Portland School of Ballet and a future participant of a prestigious summer dance program, Lawson is well on her way to reaching her dream.
    “She’s a very talented young dancer,” said Vanessa Beyland, an instructor and dancer with the Portland Ballet Company. “She has a lot of natural abilities-very good flexibility, long legs and limbs-and is a very dedicated student.” Beyland said “a dancer has to be strong and smart in a lot of different areas” and Arianna “definitely has the potential” to be a professional dancer.
    During her nine years of dancing, Lawson has studied several styles of dance including Irish dance, jazz, and tap; but ballet has always been her passion. Arianna’s mom, Michelle, said her daughter has “always been a very physical kid” and she has loved dancing since she was a toddler.
    “She never misses a day,” Michelle said. “It’s her love.” She added, “Hopefully her feet hold out.”
    Arianna will spend four weeks of the upcoming summer on the University of Texas Austin campus, participating in the American Ballet Theater’s (ABT) Summer Intensive program. Arianna auditioned for the program earlier this year at the Boston Ballet School during ABT’s National Audition Tour. The program, for intermediate to advanced dancers between the ages of 12 and 18, is focused on classical ballet, but also exposes students to a variety of techniques and artistic disciplines. Each day, students will participate in three dance classes and one lecture class. At night, students may also have rehearsals geared toward a final performance at the end of the program.
    Last summer, Arianna attended Walnut Hill School, another selective program for dancers, located in Natick, Massachusetts. Arianna didn’t admit to any anxiety about being so far away from home and Michelle said the distance would probably be harder for the rest of the family to deal with.  
    Arianna is modest about her dancing abilities. She said she doesn’t get stage fright and she didn’t do anything special to prepare for the ABT audition. Her regular routine affords her plenty of time for practice. Currently, Arianna takes one class at Scarborough Middle School and is home schooled for the rest of her studies. In the mornings, she assists at a local dance studio and passes on her skills to tiny dancers between the ages of 3 and 5. She estimated she spends between one and a half hours to three hours a day practicing her own skills.
    In May, Arianna will audition for C.O.R.P.S., a performing arts high school formed through a partnership between the Portland School of Ballet and Portland High School. Students spend part of the day in the classroom and then three hours in the dance studio. The interdisciplinary program gives students credit in health, physical education, and fine arts. Beyland said Arianna is at the step just below the pre-professional program. 
    Michelle said the program is “very intensive.”
    “Most high schools will not let their students leave to do this program unless they are honors students,” she said.
    In the meantime, Arianna can be seen in Portland School of Ballet’s upcoming production of Peter and the Wolf.  Arianna is playing the bird, one of Peter’s animal friends and a semi-lead part. 
    Peter and the Wolf will take place at Portland High School’s John Ford Theater at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. Tickets are currently available at Bull Moose Music Store locations, but can also be purchased at the door. For more information about the Portland School of Ballet or the Portland Ballet Company, visit www.portlandballet.org or call (207) 772-9671.