EWhat if the new prodigy of classical music was a young dancer from Dax? Ilaria Travini De Colle, 12 years old, participated in the eleventh season of the show “Prodiges” broadcast on France 2 on December 19, 26, 2024 and January 2, 2025. Presented by Faustine Bollaert, the program highlights children and adolescents promising and talented in classical arts such as dance, lyrical singing or instruments.
Ilaria Travini De Colle has been dancing since the age of 3, a passion passed on to her by her sister, seven years her senior. “I watched her dance, it made me want to and, since then, I haven’t stopped,” confides the young girl shyly. For three years, she has been playing at the AC Academy in Saint-Paul-lès-Dax. A school of excellence, founded and directed by Adeline Crosa, former dancer in the corps de ballet of the Helsinki Opera in Finland. It was she who suggested that Ilaria participate in “Prodiges”, a show that the young girl has been following for many years but in which she never thought she could participate. “After sending my application, I didn’t have too much hope,” she says. I thought they wouldn’t retain a dancer from a small school in the Landes. »
Borrowing a disconcerting maturity, the Dacquoise shows great humility, but her results speak for her. For five years, she has achieved very high level performances in the pre-pro competitions in which she participates in the four corners of France and beyond. Last year, Ilaria won the gold medal of the European CND (National Dance Confederation) in Tarragona (Spain). It was during this period that his teacher suggested that he try his luck for the France 2 program.
Requirement, discipline and personality
His performances, like his participation in “Prodiges”, owe nothing to chance. “I have twenty hours of dance classes per week and I also do personal work at home,” explains the young girl who trains rigorously throughout the year. “Sometimes I feel like my body is a little tired,” she admits, “but I manage to rest when I need to. » His parents remain attentive to his good health. “We know that it is a demanding discipline, which requires extensive work on a daily basis, but we make sure that she can take breaks,” explains her father, Laurent.
A fifth-grade student at the Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle school group in Dax, Ilaria, like eight other dancers from the AC Académie, has benefited for two years from flexible schedules put in place by the establishment, in order to facilitate sports practice of some of its young people. She, who dreams of becoming a prima ballerina, juggles between her life as an artist and her daily life as a schoolgirl. “My parents made me understand that school comes first,” she confides. If I don’t perform well, I can’t go to the dance. And since I don’t like missing rehearsals, I make sure I work well. » “I am convinced that what made the difference with recruiters was his personality,” observes Laurent. If the talent of this youngest of three children is beyond doubt, her spontaneity and calm made her a perfect candidate for the France 2 show.
“When my father told us that I was selected, my teacher and I cried,” confides Ilaria. We are now in April 2024 and the dancer is preparing to enter a long and demanding preparation phase. “With Adeline, we worked all summer to compose and perfect the variations that I will present at “Prodiges”, explains the young girl. Two passages – one for the semi-final and one in anticipation of a potential final – that the two artists had to construct on the basis of music imposed by the production of the show.
Shine under the cameras
The show recorded in Paris last September left an unforgettable memory for the young girl. “It was a unique moment that I wanted to take advantage of without asking too many questions,” she says, her eyes full of emotion that her shyness cannot hide.
“I made friends with whom I experienced very powerful things,” she continues. It all happened very quickly. It’s weird to think that we’ll never be able to relive those moments again. »
On stage, the dancer made sure not to be impressed by this very special context in order to deliver the best possible performance. “For me, it was the same feeling as in competition, except that this time, there were cameras. I just tried not to pay attention to it. »
Since the announcement of her participation was made public on November 26, Ilaria can’t wait to sit in front of her TV on December 19 at 9:05 p.m. “the idea of seeing myself on TV,” she admits, however. Her family and friends should also be there to find out if the young Dacquoise prodigy has managed to convince the jury and reach the grand final.
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