What does it take to balance high school, ballet competitions and a starring role in “The Nutcracker”? For ballerina junior Gemma Nguyen, it’s just another day “en pointe.”

In December 2024, Gemma performed as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy’s stunning production of “The Nutcracker.” But her accomplishments don’t stop there. Gemma competes in ballet competitions across the U.S. and internationally, earning top three placements at competitions in Lithuania, France and Canada. Most recently, she won Outstanding Achievement in the Classical Ballet Division at the 20th American Dance Company International Ballet Competition.

Gemma’s dance journey started 13 years ago when her aunt took her to a Mommy and Me dance class. A few years later, her parents signed her up for her first ballet lessons at a local studio. After working hard to improve her technique, she entered her first dance competition at nine years old wearing a pink tutu set.

Although her dedication to ballet is time-consuming with more than 18 hours of training per week, her success is a product of hard work, time management and passion for what she does.

Want to learn more about Gemma’s journey, her inspirations and her future plans? Check out our podcast with her: