Nicole Bell, a student at the Rochester School of Dance, has been accepted into the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. 

It is a pre-professional program, and it is designed to prepare students who wish to choose ballet as a professional career. Nicole, who is a student at Oxford High School, has been studying ballet since she was 11. Her future plans are to dance professionally.

"In the ballet world, you never know what is going to happen in the future," Nicole said. "I am planning on taking things one step at a time, and focusing on what is happening in the moment.

"However, my ultimate goal is to dance in a ballet company professionally, whether is be with Pittsburgh ballet theatre or elsewhere, but I would love to stay at PBT and work my way up into their company. I have always loved their work, and I am constantly inspired by their company dancers."

Nicole said dancing at the Rochester School of Dance and with the Michigan Ballet Theatre under the direction of Cornelia Sampson has taught her so much. 

"RSD is one of the few schools around that gives the performance opportunities it does, and it truly creates a professional setting at all times, whether it be during rehearsals or performances," Sampson said.