Ivana (centre) with her parents (left) and others at the recent Dance World Cup finals in Spain.
AS a toddler, ballerina Ivana Iman Mohammad Ezral loved to wiggle and jiggle, dancing her heart out.
Her mother, public health specialist Dr Natassia Sarah Mohd Danny, noticed her quirky moves as early as 12 months old. When Ivana was about two and a half, she brought her to a dance studio.
“There, we let her try baby ballet classes, and her first instructor, Jasmine Leong – a former Malaysian swimmer – noticed how Ivana would point at photos of ballerinas on the wall,” she recalled.
Even as a toddler, Ivana took her classes seriously and rarely missed a session. It was then her family knew she loved ballet and wanted to be a ballerina.
Fast forward to today, the 10-year-old, who now trains at Ballet by Nora dance studio, is making a name for herself and catching the eye of international dance schools.
She made the country proud by becoming the first Malaysian to win silver in the Ballet Solo category at the Dance World Cup (DWC) finals in Spain this July.
Ivana when she just started ballet. Even as a toddler, Ivana took her classes seriously and rarely missed a session. It was then her family knew she loved ballet and wanted to be a ballerina.
The SK St Agnes pupil is now receiving scholarship offers from Europe – an opportunity her family is seriously considering.
Ballet isn’t her only talent. Ivana was also a gymnast, competing in events such as the Sabah Open, where she won two gold medals. However, to help her focus on school and ballet, her parents decided she should step back from gymnastics.
“At the age of 10, I asked her what ballet meant to her – she said it motivates her to keep dancing because she gets to travel, make new friends and learn more about the art,” said Dr Natassia.
“I just love ballet. When I love doing it, I hope I will be able to do it well,” Ivana said. “I want to become a champion one day,” added the eldest of four siblings.
Ivana’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. She was born with developmental dysplasia of the hip, a condition she outgrew at around the age of two.
“By the grace of God, she is now doing so well in ballet, and as parents, we are truly thankful and blessed,” said Dr Natassia.
