Izzy Hoult received Discretionary Response Funding from Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board to help her attend the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) Mentor Programme Intensive 2023. Izzy was one of only 30 young kiwis accepted into the programme, which enables young dancers to experience life with the company and take classes with their ballet master's. This is what Izzy had to say about her experience:

My dancer Mentees this year were Matthew Slattery and Tessa Karla, both of whom were so encouraging, inspiring and gave me the confidence to push myself not only as dancer and artist but as a young adult in the ballet/dance world. Their advice and insight allowed me to think outside my comfort zone and challenge my ability and show me that dreams really do come true.

Our final weekend was spent in Wellington at the home of the RNZB - St James Theatre, together with my peers from around the country we took class with Sir David McAllister (Temporary Artistic Director), Ballet Masters Laura and Nick Schultz and Clytie Campbell. We had the pleasure to visit the costume department and were very fortunate to have a Q&A with Sir David McAllister who patiently and very informatively answered our questions on the next step in our dance training journey.

This was truly a time I will treasure and will definitely keep in my ‘toolbox’ for the future.

Izzy will start training full time at NZSD as Classical major in February 2024 and can't wait to spend more time with the RNZB.