Piimio Mei was turned down twice to attend The New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington, but that didn't deter the 17 year old from pursuing her dream of becoming a Ballerina. A late starter to Ballet at 12 years old, Piimio was taught a few techniques from her mother and then moved into formal lessons at Kapiti Dance Centre with Alison Pond. It was after watching the movie First Position that she learned about The Rock, a dance school in Philadelphia, United States. Piimio, who practises on the hard wooden floor of the kitchen at her home in Wellington, decided to send in an audition tape to attend their summer school Ballet Intensive programme, she learned in March she was accepted. Aside from studying engineering at Weltech, she is busy fundraising for the school fees, travel and accommodation costs. A Marae in Newlands, Wellington is hosting a hangi fundraiser this weekend.