Figtree dancer Chantelle Zaulich. Picture: DAVE TEASE
While her friends cram for their looming HSC exams, Figtree year 12 student Chantelle Zaulich is instead brushing up on belly-dancing techniques in preparation for her new career in Bollywood cinema.
The Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts dancer was spotted by a talent scout several months ago when she was auditioning for a spot in Paris's Moulin Rouge.
"I was told I was too short for Moulin Rouge, but one of the women - an agent for cruise ships and Bollywood films - saw me and then about three weeks ago she called me up and asked if I wanted to go to Bollywood," Chantelle said.
Tomorrow the 18-year-old will fly to Mumbai, leaving behind her family to spend six months making films, performing in dance shows, doing photo shoots and making TV commercials.
She is thrilled, but said the decision to drop everything and go to India was not without risks.
"I can't do my HSC or any of my school performances any more and I've had to stop teaching at my dance school, so I'm giving up a lot," she said.
"But it's what I have to do because I've been training my whole life to do something like this, so I can't miss out on this opportunity."
In 12 years as a dancer Chantelle has excelled at all kinds of ballet and contemporary dance styles, but never dreamed of being a Bollywood dancer.
"I've been learning some belly dancing and other techniques for the past week, so I am on top of all that, but otherwise I'm petrified," she said.
"It's kind of like a nervous excitement - I want to cry but I'm smiling at the same time."
Between sorting out visas and vaccinations, Chantelle has been emailing other dancers who travel from all over the world for the opportunity to make it big in Bollywood and has been told to expect a hectic schedule in India.
"I've been told that there will be 13-hour days of dancing and sometimes it goes overtime and turns into 15 or 16 hour days," Chantelle said.
