So You Think You Can Dance Caleb Bartolo's dreams come true

Optus New Talent Fund recipient Caleb Bartolo celebrates

The So You Think You Can Dance Australia hopeful is given a chance to shine thanks to Optus

Optus New Talent Fund recipient Caleb Bartolo will take centre stage on July 10 after completing a two week intensive training course with some of Australia's leading choreographers at the Sydney Dance Company.

Caleb Bartolo received his first shot at the limelight when he auditioned for the popular Network TEN show So You Think You Can Dance Australia. Although too young to compete at age 15, the judges were so impressed by Caleb Bartolo's skill they invited him to perform at the television series premiere.

Keen to support young talent and in conjunction with the shows sponsorship Optus presented Caleb Bartolo with a scholarship, on behalf of the Optus New Talent Fund, to attend an intensive training course at the Sydney Dance Company (SDC).

Michael Smith, Optus Corporate and Consumer Group Marketing Director said, "We were amazed at Caleb's talent given his lack of access to professional training and saw this as an opportunity to support him through the Optus New Talent Fund. As a communications company we are in the business of connecting people and we knew Caleb would be the perfect recipient for this type of training and development."

Caleb Bartolo, who has been dancing since he was five, said, "I thought I was just going to perform at the So You Think You Can Dance Australia final but then they announced the special scholarship which was a big surprise. As soon as I heard it was with SDC, I was excited as they have such an amazing reputation and the opportunity to work with the instructors is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

The Sydney Dance Company is world renowned having performed to international audiences in over 26 countries since its inception in 1971.

The program was created specifically for Caleb Bartolo by Sydney Dance Company Directors and is action packed with dance styles ranging from 'popping', with So You Think You Can Dance Australia's Nacho Pop, to a special viewing of the live musical Billy Elliot.

Caleb Bartolo will also be taking lessons from award winning London based choreographer Raphael Bonachela who has worked on the Kylie Minogue Fever and Showgirl tours. Bonachela has also worked with the Kills, Hugo Boss and the Rambert Dance Company moving between mainstream and more avant-garde dance.

Caleb Bartolo, who comes from the country town of Innisfail in Queensland, admits he receives a bit more attention from the locals now and was happy to sign autographs at a recent concert he attended.

"If it wasn't for this opportunity I may not have been able to develop my skills at such a professional level. The whole experience has made my love of dancing so much stronger and I can't wait to learn from the masters," Caleb Bartolo said.