Benji Groen

(14) BALLET DANCER

14 year old Benji Groen has a dream to become a professional ballet dancer. Benji’s from a family of six, with his two older sisters being classical dancers. He grew up watching ballet classes.

Benji says when he was 5 he begged his mum for ballet lessons. Being an active child mum enrolled Benji in a hip-hop class thinking it would be more ‘boyish’ and fun. He hated it and continued to ask to do ballet!

On turning 7 mum gave in and enrolled him in grade 1 RAD ballet. It helped that his 19 year old sister Natalie was the teacher and he never looked back! He says he was completely and utterly smitten by this incredible art form.

Benji is home schooled through Te Kura online. He says this enables him to put in the amount of training hours needed to be competitive internationally.

“My teacher, Nicci Theis McEwan, has a small ‘boutique’ school, Papilio Atelier, for exceptional students who are training to dance professionally. Nicci is my role model, my mentor and a second mum to me. She was principle dancer with the Scottish Ballet so she knows what it feels like to be training so hard and to want something so badly that you are willing to give up almost everything else to achieve your dream.”

Other achievements include:- Passed vocational RAD ballet exams to date with distinction; Invitee to the Australian Ballet School and part of their International Training Program; Junior associate (classical major) with NZ School of Dance; Part of the Royal NZ Ballet Mentor Program; Awarded Scholarships to English National Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, International Summer School (Italy), Alberta Ballet School (Canada) and the Nervi International Dance Festival (Italy); Gold medallist at the Singapore World Ballet Grand Prix; Winner at Spera International ballet competition and Global Dance open competition securing a place in the 2023 finals which are being held in Spain.

Since applying for an AIMES Award Benji has successfully auditioned for the Royal Ballet School 2023 summer intensive program at White Lodge in London. He says the AIMES scholarship funds will help tremendously with the cost of travel to the UK and tuition fees.

Benji Groen receives a North Harbour Club AIMES Scholarship Award, sponsored by Vantage Windows & Doors North Shore, and a cash grant of $3,000.