Newport Harbor High dancer wins competition

A classical dancer from Newport Harbor High School outshined her final

rival in the Music Center Spotlight Awards, earning herself a prize of

$5,000.

Diane Booth, 16, won first place at the competition on Tuesday night

in Los Angeles over one other finalist in the classical dance category.

For her performance, she danced the seductive Black Swan variation from

“Swan Lake.”

“I was really excited,” Diane said. “I was very happy with my

performance. It felt like I was Sarah Hughes.”

Diane, who trains with Ballet Pacifica in Irvine, originally competed

against 67 other dancers in the classical dance division. She was chosen

as one of 22 semifinalists and went on to become one of two finalists.

Diane will also get the opportunity to take a class with the artistic

director of American Ballet Theatre’s junior company on Thursday, along

with eight other finalists.

Diane said she will probably use half of the prize money toward a

summer program at the School of American Ballet in New York City this

summer and the rest toward her dance lessons next year.