Amherst teenager heads to Toronto to dance
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Larissa Kogut, 16, will attend the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto for her final two years of high school. The junior, who has been dancing for four years, auditioned for the school's prestigious summer program and was offered one of 138 positions to attend the school year-round. Photo by Scott Southerland

When 16-year-old Larissa Kogut was accepted into the National Ballet School of Canada's summer program, she knew she had chance at an even more prestigious opportunity.

"It's very different from other summer programs," she said. "It's a lot more intense and focused."

The summer program was also her audition for acceptance to the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto.

Larissa's parents, Beth and Peter Kogut of Amherst, got the call that their daughter would be offered a place at the school while Larissa was still immersed in the summer program.

"We were ecstatic," Beth said of hearing the news. "We know that this is what she wants to do, and she couldn't be at a better place."

Larissa will train and finish high school in Toronto. Only 138 people from grades six through 12 are accepted to the school.

The high school junior, who formerly attended Amherst High School, left for Toronto on Sunday.

"There's a lot of pressure having to balance school and dancing and the fact that I'll be there by myself, but I'm not nervous - more excited," she said.

"She's been away during the summer before, so I'm not nervous about her going away," Beth said of having her teenage daughter attend school away from home. "But it is sad because I'm going to miss her. But it's only two hours to Toronto. And the school and her residence is all in one place."

Larissa noted that the school she will be attending is different from most ballet schools because it offers an academic aspect as well as ballet training.

"At most other schools, like in New York, there aren't academics," she said. "The students go to a performing arts high school." Unlike many of her peers who

have been dancing for most of their lives, Larissa has been dancing for only four years. She started at the Sherry Martin School of Dance in Williamsville, but after deciding to focus on ballet, she moved to Classical Ballet of WNY, a school of the Lockport City Ballet.

Even though she may not

have the years of experience, Larissa has the work ethic of a professional dancer.

"She danced every day except Sunday unless she had a rehearsal," Beth said. "She was dancing anywhere from one and a half and three hours a day."

Larissa has made no decision as to where she will go after high school.

"There's a post-secondary program at the school, and that's just dancing with no other academics," she said. "But I'd like to get into a company. Maybe like the New York City Ballet or Miami - one of the big ones."

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com