Zana Manisty, 15, from Hawke’s Bay is pursuing an international ballet career. Photo / Alisha Taylor
Zana Manisty, 15, from Hawke’s Bay is pursuing an international ballet career. Photo / Alisha Taylor
A 15-year-old Hawke’s Bay ballet dancer is pirouetting towards an international ballet career, earning places at two elite international summer programmes in Canada and in France.
Zana Manisty, from Havelock North, left home at 14 and now lives in a Lower Hutt homestay to attend the Chilton Ballet Academy(CBA), a specialised two-year pre-professional programme attached to Chilton St James School.
Zana began ballet and gymnastics aged 3, later representing Hawke’s Bay at the New Zealand Gymnastics Nationals three years in a row.
At 13, she auditioned for Chilton’s academy “mainly for the experience” but was offered a place.
“Then came the big decision, I had to give up gymnastics after qualifying for step 8 and would have to leave home at 14 years old and live in a homestay,” she said.
“I accepted the challenge and found myself starting CBA’s two-year programme in 2025.”
Her first year at the academy has already brought major opportunities.
Zana has been accepted into the Alberta Ballet School Summer Intensive in Calgary, Canada, as well as the European School of Ballet Summer School in Marseille, France.
She has also earned places in the New Zealand School of Dance Associate programme and Dance Masters International training.
“I am incredibly grateful for what has become of my dancing journey. My passion for the art form is thriving, and I want to keep pushing myself to see how far I can get.”
Zana Manisty has been accepted into elite summer programmes in Canada and France. Photo / Alisha Taylor
Her mother, Sonia Manisty, says she is proud of Zana, but it all comes with a price.
“She does enjoy and love her dance, and she’s a very hard worker,” Sonia said.
“I am just trying to be able to support her to continue to achieve her dreams. And the hard thing with the ballet industry is that it’s not rugby. It’s not well known.”
She said international summer schools cost between $8000 and $10,000 each, including flights, accommodation and training fees. With the added costs of living away from home, domestic travel and pointe shoes, the financial strain is significant.
To help ease the financial load on her mother, who has been the main support behind her training, Zana has launched a Givealittle page.
“She has another audition lined up in June for Princess Grace Academy ... Princess Grace Academy is based in Monaco and conducts worldwide auditions to their 2027 programme,” Sonia says.
“With her CBA programme finishing this year her focus, along with gaining university entrance at 16, is to audition at various academies through NZ, Australia and abroad, with the goal of being accepted into a fulltime training placement for the 2027 year.”
