WATCHING Ella Loekito on stage, it doesn't take long to realise she is a star.

But it is hard to believe the polished, mature performer with the luminous face and immense stage presence is just 14 years old.

What isn't suprising is the fact the dancer from The Dance Centre Peregian Springs has just been offered places in several prestigious ballet schools in the United States.

When Ella decided to apply to the biggest and most famous American ballet summer schools, she had her fingers crossed she would gain a place in one of them.

Instead she was accepted into them all.

She was also offered a full-time place in a four-year ballet training program in New York.

The schools vying for Ella's talent included the highly-respected Joffrey Ballet Schools, which have a very rigorous audition process.

Ella was offered places in summer ballet schools in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Denver.

She was also offered a place in the Bolshoi Intensive Summer School.

After much thought, she accepted a place in the four-week Ballet and Contemporary Summer Intensive offered by Alonzo King Lines Ballet in San Francisco.

The couse, which will be held in June and July, combines classical ballet and contemporary dance - Ella's two great dance loves and strengths.

"I am so excited. It is going to be a very big year," the talented teenager said.

"Just before I leave for America, myself and 16 other dancers from The Dance Centre Peregian Springs will be competing in the semi-finals of the Jacqueline Morland Competitions in Brisbane."