Ballerina drops in on old hometown

She's back to be bridesmaid for fellow ballet dancer and longtime childhood friend Jess Takarangi next weekend.

The 28-year-old soloist has just returned to Melbourne from Ireland where she was a principal dancer with the Ballet of Ireland performing in classical pieces including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Les Sylphides.

Ms Francis starred ballet as a small 4-year-old with acclaimed Wanganui ballet teacher Shirley McDouall.

She said yesterday it was Mrs McDouall who had urged her at  age 16 to go further with her ballet because she had the talent to pursue a career in dance.

After two years at the Victoria College of Performing Arts College in Melbourne, she returned to Wellington and the New Zealand School of Dance for three years before going overseas.

Even though she loves to dance Ms Francis admits that more and more she is leaning towards her other love of choreography.

Even though she doesn't have a wealth of old friends in Wanganui any longer she is always happy to see her grandparents who still live here and contact her childhood ballet teacher Mrs McDouall.

"She taught me everything and encouraged me and I will never forget that. I love to see her when I come back.

 which isn't very often these days."

Ms Francis heads back to Melbourne next week where she is teaching dance and will be also be performing again in contemporary dance theatre within a few weeks.