Hannah O'Neill, 18, has been offered a rare seasonal contract with the Paris Opera Ballet. The contract, offered after attending auditions in Paris starts in August and extends until April 2012 with the possibility of renewal.

More than 100 students from around the world competed for two highly sought after positions with the company. Both were offered to students from the Paris Opera Ballet School. O'Neill, after a memorable performance, received a phone call while at the Singapore airport with the exciting offer.

'The Paris Opera Ballet is what ballet is to me, it's been a dream of mine since I was little' O'Neill said.

O'Neill gained an international profile in 2009 when she won the Prix de Lausanne, the worlds most prestigious competition for young dancers, held in Switzerland. In 2010 O'Neill was awarded first place in the senior woman's section at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York.

O'Neill trained at the Mt Eden Ballet Academy in Auckland where her rare and stunning talent was evident from a young age. She was a dedicated student known also for her lovely demeanour.

Hannah was 1st Runner-up in AH Awards in both 2005/2007 & was invited as guest performer at the AHA Awards Grand Finals in Auckland 2011 .  

In 2008 Hannah moved to Melbourne to train full time at the Australian Ballet School. O'Neill is now in her final year at the Australian Ballet School and can be seen touring with The Australian Ballet's regional touring arm, The Dancers Company, in its porduction of Don Quixote, beginning in Tasmania mid July.