It's a dream 18-year-old Bemet, who was born in Mackay in Queensland and joined the Australian Ballet School at 14, has waited almost her entire life to come true. "I started ballet lessons when I was three; I loved running and jumping up and down to music, pretending to be a fairy." But while most give up on the ballerina idea when they realise how hard it is – Bemet acknowledges "the pressures on the body and the mind are too much sometimes" – she persevered, receiving the ultimate reward when she was accepted into the corps de ballet six months ago.

This photo essay gives us a glimpse into her life. A dancer's life.

Benedicte Bemet
Age: 18. Weight: 48kg. Height: 165cm.
Training: nine hours a day; six days a week.

What is your training schedule?
"Wake up at 8am, Pilates at 8.30am, stretches in the studio at 10am, then a 10.30am ballet class. We start at the barre with warm-up exercises, then go into centre where we do pirouettes and jumps. Swan Lake rehearsals go from noon until 2.30pm, followed by lunch, then a wardrobe fitting, ice bath or massage. More rehearsals from 3.45pm until 6.30pm, then home to ice my feet!"

How do you stay calm?
"I've just started yoga; that's really centring. Taking time out to let your mind concentrate on something else [other than ballet], even if it's just reading a book, is really important."

Are you on a strict diet?
"No, there's just a big emphasis on being healthy and eating all the proper food groups and looking after yourself. The company have nutritionists and doctors on board and they provide you with all that information."

Are there any body shape expectations?
"I don't think so. There are such different body types within the company and everyone accepts that. Not everyone's the same height or has the same leg length, whereas in some other companies around the world everyone has to fit into the one mould. That's why the Australian Ballet is so great: as long as you're fit and healthy, it's all right."

Do you get lonely?
"A lot of us are in the same boat; we've come internationally or interstate and moved away from our parents [Bemet's parents are on the Gold Coast]. You become your own little family and you look after each other. Everyone's just as homesick as each other."

Have you ever been tempted to give up?
"Every now and then I'd go through a stage where I wasn't sure if I was good enough. You just have to persevere with these things. And life's a roller-coaster; you have to go down to go up."

What do you love about ballet?
"I love pushing and striving to be that little bit better each day. And I love putting on a tutu with beautiful earrings and a beautiful headdress. It's like when a little girl puts on a princess costume: you feel so elegant and beautiful."

The Australian Ballet presents Swan Lake in Melbourne from September 18-29, and in Sydney from November 30 to December 19.

Photography: James Braund

From Sunday Life