There was never a moment when Saul Newport decided he wanted to dance professionally, that desire was always there.
Now the Rotorua man has been selected to dance with a prestigious ballet company in the United States for the second year running and is fulfilling his dream.
Newport has danced from a young age and started as a jazz dancer before taking up classical ballet at age 11.
At 16 he left John Paul College to study at the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington before being selected for Houston Ballet II last year.
The company is the second company for Houston Ballet, with dancers still in training and aspiring to join the main company.
Newport's contract for the second company has been renewed for the 2018/19 season and he leaves on Monday.
Saul Newport has been selected for Houston Ballet Company. Photo / Stephen Parker
"I've always wanted to go to the Houston Ballet. It's been a dream of mine. Houston Ballet is one of the top five companies in America so it's quite prestigious," he said.
"There wasn't a moment where I said 'I want to be a dancer', it's always been a thing I've known I wanted to do and that was that. It's always been part of me.
"I love to dance. Being able to do that and get paid for it is such a dream."
Newport dances six days a week with the company and encouraged others to try dance.
"I think it's such a great art form. To me it's more than just a sport it's more than just exercise or athleticism, it's an art form. There's always more to strive for, it's never perfect."
Newport first trained in ballet with Rotorua teacher Anne Samson who said she knew "instantly" he had potential.
"I just knew when I saw him if we worked him appropriately he would achieve," she said.
"He was 11 and he came and watched one of my shows ... I had not seen him dance so I placed him in grade 3 but I soon realised he didn't belong there."
Samson said she was incredibly proud of Newport and felt he would go places.
"I'm just very proud. He's so deserving, he's worked so hard to get to where he is and it's so humbling to see his achievements.
"He is gifted but he has had to work really hard to get there."
