The Royal Academy of Dance in New Zealand said several people in their 50s had sat exams at Scannell's level, but never a 60-year-old.
Scannell was a keen ballet dancer from age 6, before losing interest and quitting at 15.
"I enjoyed going to ballet but to really carry on and do more with it you have to be incredibly dedicated and incredibly focused," she told the Herald on Sunday.
"I wanted to do other things. I got married and had a family; lived on a farm."
Scannell was still on her Waipukurau farm eight years ago when she learned of a ballet teacher who offered classes for adults.
Esther Juon's classes at her studio in Waipawa are structured by ability rather than age, so Scannell found herself in a grade one class alongside dancers as young as 12.
"It took a while for the body to get back, it's not what it was when I was 15, but it's not too bad," she said.
She was the oldest in her class and still is, although at intermediate level she's been joined by four other adults.
They attend two two-hour classes a week with Juon, and Scannell finds herself running through moves around her house.
"I might be in the garden or in the shower, I'll be going through things in my head."
Dance is something that completely engages her body and mind.
"It's your time, you can't let anything else intrude on it."
The very high distinction came as something of a shock.
"I will credit Richie McCaw. If you see his movie, he says 'the body will do what the mind tells it to'. Between every exercise, I was repeating that to myself."
Juon was incredibly proud.
"Age has nothing to do with it, it's all about time and commitment."
