Cambridge girl, 12, to pursue dreams at Royal Winnipeg Ballet School

Leila Hopkins has had her school bag packed for more than a week; to say she's excited is a bit of an understatement.

But unlike her friends who will be loading running shoes, books and their lunch into their backpacks for next Tuesday, 12-year-old Hopkins has a few more things to take with her, including clothing, her teddy bear and family photos.

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The Cambridge girl has been accepted to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and this weekend, is taking a road trip with her parents to the school.

She admitted she's nervous "but really excited, though, too."

Support from family

This summer, Hopkins attended an invite-only four-week summer intensive course, which serves as an audition for the prestigious school. After that, she was chosen to attend the school in the full-time professional division.

It's a big step, mom Michele said.

"Leila trains really hard and this is quite an accomplishment," she told Andrew Coppolino, guest host of The Morning Edition on CBC K-W Thursday. "We felt that this is an opportunity and we don't want our children to have regrets later, so we need to embrace opportunities."

But how does she really feel about allowing her 12-year-old go hundreds of kilometres away for school?

"Honestly, it is heart wrenching," she said, adding she's thankful technology will keep them in touch.

"It will be different and it will be a challenge, but I think, she's pursuing her dream and her passion, so we want to support that," Michele Hopkins said.

'It's always beautiful'

Leila Hopkins said she'll miss her little sister and her older brother, who is off to university in Ottawa this fall, as well as her parents and her dogs.

But says it's worth it to pursue her dream. The school boasts an international reputation for providing the highest quality training to its dancers.

"RWB School alumni have gone on to exciting careers in all facets of the dance industry and currently form 65 per cent of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company and comprise over half of its dance faculty," the school said on its website.

Leila Hopkins has been dancing ballet since she was two and on point — which means she goes up on her toes with shoes specially designed for ballet dancers — for two years.

Her "big goal" is to be a professional ballet dancer, she said.

"Ballet just has that beautiful that the other styles can't really have in the same way," she said. "It's painful sometimes, but in the end it's always beautiful."