Bonnie off to America

The five-month program is through the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where Bonnie is in the second year of her Arts degree. 

The 20-year-old has had a rocky year-and-a-half due to injuries, and was forced to stop training for three months while she sported a boot for a partially ruptured ligament in her foot.  

She soldiered through and ended up winning the National Championship in Melbourne last December, a few months after her ankle had healed. Two months later, the news came that she had been accepted into the American university.

The talented dancer has a history of achievements which include winning multiple State and National dancing championships and awards, as well as acting as head girl in both primary school and high school at St Josephs Northam and Swan Christian College. 

Toodyay Ballet School principal Lani McGeady, who is also Bonnie’s mother, said the talented dancer was always at the ballet school growing up, so she naturally became passionate from a young age.

“Bonnie has been dancing since she has been in nappies,” McGeady said.  

“Everyone is so proud of her achievements.”

McGeady said Bonnie had been a huge role model for the children at the ballet school. 

“She is exceptional in what she does for young kids in particular –  the little kids were heartbroken she was leaving,” she said.

“A recent routine she choreographed was around bullying and how to deal with bullying at school, which involved spending a lot of time talking to the kids about their experiences.”

McGeady said the ballet school’s main focus was to provide children from the country with the same opportunities children from the city receive when growing up. 

Bonnie danced her last WA performance at the ballet school’s annual recital on August 21-22.

The sold-out show was Bonnie’s last performance in WA before flying to New York the next day. 

McGeady said Bonnie was enjoying meeting people from all over the world through the program, and was loving the American summer.