Abbey Hansen, 15, of Cedar Vale will head to New York in April as a finalist in the prestigious Youth American Grand Prix.
The competition is ranked in the top three ballet competitions and attracted more than 3000 dancers to audition.
Abbey was chosen as one of 20 Australians to make it to the finals.
She will compete against other senior dancers in the competition in the hope of winning a scholarship to a professional ballet school and some cash.
Currently, Abbey trains about 22 hours a week with Debra Whitten School of Dance at Underwood, taking her school studies by distance education.
“She is very focused and dedicated,” Abbey’s mother Vicki said.
“Once she has set her sights on something, she will do what she has to do to achieve it.”
Abbey started dance at age eight, at the Veresdale Scrub hall, later joining another dance school at Yatala.
Ms Hansen said it was her dream to gain a position in a classical company.