Sixteen-year-old Courtney Lopes recently embarked on a five-week tour of China with The Columbia City Jazz Company.

Courtney, who is studying at the North Carolina School of the Arts, was the youngest and only international of eight dancers that were invited to travel alongside 22 company members, as they toured 17 different cities.

In only two weeks, she mastered the ten jazz and modern routines required for the cross-continent venture. During that period she worked with top choreographers such as last year?s winner of ?So You Think You Can Dance? reality show Nick Lazzarini and well known jazz choreographers Dee Caspary and Jason Parsons.

She said, including those that were solely for company members, there was a total of 25 -30 dances used in the group?s China bound repertoire, ?but we couldn?t perform every dance at every show because some of the places in China were so hot ? people were fainting back stage.?

Between June 29 and August 2, the group performed in a variety of locales ranging from high school gyms to plush, chandelier-illuminated theatres.

She said in one city ? Laiyang ? they were dancing on linoleum flooring ?and people were smoking in the crowd which was bad, but I loved performing there ? they made us feel so good.?

Eight days were spent in Laiyang where, according to Courtney, seeing a non-Asian was a very rare occasion. ?They just stared and followed us and there were crowds of people ? so much poverty, but everyone in the community was so loving. They did anything for us.? Courtney said, despite the conditions, the best shows were held in Laiyang and the other small cities visited. ?Some performances had over 1,600 people. They were so supportive.? The dancers were treated like celebrities, ?they were taking our pictures, getting autographs and we had security with us all the time ? it was amazing.?

In fact, she said the most rewarding part of the trip, ?was to be able to come off stage and, even though you?re finished dancing and the curtain has closed, you walk into the audience and there are swarms of people who just have these big smiles on their faces.

?That was just like the best feeling ? to know you made them that happy.?

The group visited numerous interesting parts of China ? Beijing being one of them.

?They were all ready for the Olympics and we got so many Olympic souvenirs,? she said.

And the Great Wall of China was a sight to behold, ?they?re not lying when they say you climb the Great Wall of China? what an experience.?

Another favourite stop was the city of Xi?an ? ?they had nine-storey malls with every brand name you could think of.?

Courtney added: ?We travelled so much.?

She gave an example of one occasion when they travelled via bus, train, plane and boat over a 48-hour time period. ?We had some pretty interesting travelling experiences.?

She spoke of China?s unique culture and said the bathroom facilities were completely different from what she was used to. She also found the beds to be considerably harder than usual.

With regards to the food, which was usually cooked in peanut oil, she said: ?The whole thing about rice is true: they definitely eat a lot of rice.?

Seeing a whole sea turtle ? in its shell ? resting in a plate was another eye opener.

Courtney chose not to sample the offering.

Overall, her experience in China ?was very humbling?, she said.

?To know that we have so much compared to these people. I?m grateful for everything. I know everyone says that, but I learned to take whatever comes and to make the best out of it because sometimes that?s all you can get.?

Of her personal aspirations, Courtney said her ultimate goal is to attend the Juilliard School in New York City and then join a professional modern dance company.

After her career in a company she said she would probably return to Bermuda and share her knowledge with the dancers at In Motion as a teacher.

However, she hasn?t ruled out other possible career-paths such as Broadway ? adding that she had a great time in China doing ?jazz and theatrical stuff? as opposed to the more serious forms of dance she is used to doing.

She also enjoys hip-hop. ?When I was younger I always wanted to be a back up dancer for Usher,? she said.

One of her biggest inspirations is Liz Pimentel, director of the In Motion School of Dance.

?She has definitely pushed me, but I think it?s because she knew that I could do it. At times I thought ?She hates me. Oh my God, she?s shouting at me?, but now I?m so thankful that she was like that because she?s helped me get to where I am today, and she continues to help me.?

Courtney?s growth over the past year showed in her performance during the DanceBermuda 2006 summer intensive, and she even said she felt ?stronger.?

?I?m having so much fun ? the ballet training is excellent and the teachers are great,? she said at the time.

In fact, she was awarded one of this year?s Catherine Zeta-Jones scholarships at the conclusion of DanceBermuda, which will finance her participation in next year?s summer intensive.

?I may join a modern company that wants to do a contemporary piece on ? you never know, so I?m definitely going to continue with it.

?I don?t mind if my feet hurt afterwards, I?m willing to take on that task.?

Indeed, Courtney was made to be a mover.

?I just have a drive to dance? when I?m not dancing I get bored,? she said. ?I?m able to express myself through dance, and itgives me the freedom I wouldn?t have if I wasn?t dancing.?

Courtney, who was previously a student at Mount St. Agnes Academy, has just completed her first year at the North Carolina School of the Arts as a high school sophomore ? and had a blast.

?I love it there, it?s a challenge, but it?s been what I?ve been wanting to do? forever.?

She is looking forward to another great year.

?I want to learn more, I just can?t stop. I?ve got to keep going.?