A 19-year-old Reporoa dancer is living her dreams in Turkey.
Sophie Voss travelled to Mugla, Turkey in February to join the Hillside Beach Resort dance company and had spent the past two months practising six days a week to learn eight shows, her mother Ann-Maree Voss said.
"We miss her terribly, but are also pleased for her that she's doing what she loves," Mrs Voss said.
Miss Voss began dancing when she was 4 years old, doing ballet in Auckland, Mrs Voss said. They moved to Rotorua when Miss Voss was 7, and she began dancing at the Anne Samson School of Ballet.
When they moved to Reporoa in 2010 trips had to be made twice, sometimes three times a week after school for dance classes.
After finishing Year 12, Miss Voss completed a Diploma in Dance at the New Zealand Performing Arts School in Auckland.
Ballet teacher Ms Samson said Miss Voss had been a serious student who was a "really good role-model, right from the word go". "She just wanted to dance and really worked."