This Christmas Ravi Cannonier-Watson received a dream come true: a lifetime contract with The Royal Ballet.

Although the 20-year-old has danced with Britain’s flagship classical ballet company since August, a permanent position was never promised. At every practice and each time he performed on stage, Ravi knew he had to give his absolute best.

“There's not a lot of personal feedback, because the company just doesn't have time,” he said. “I just got on with what I needed to do, put my head down and worked. I think they saw the potential.”

He received the news last week from Kevin O’Hare, the director of The Royal Ballet who praised Ravi for having “integrated into the company very well”.

“He said he believes I can have a great career with the company and asked if I wanted to accept the contract.”

It was a moment Ravi had dreamt of since the age of 11, when he was one of 2,500 boys competing for just 12 coveted spots at The Royal Ballet School.

Despite the significance of Mr O’Hare’s offer, he didn’t give an immediate response.

“I actually had to take an evening to reflect with my family over the phone, just to kind of take it all in. I was just so overwhelmed by the whole circumstance of realising that I've just achieved my dream.”

The following morning he met with Mr O’Hare and accepted the opportunity.

“I just needed a kind of a reality check ― a grounding from my parents. I needed to hear it from them, the ones who have done so much for me, [so I could] really unpack everything about this decision. Because it’s a big decision. I could be here for the rest of my life.”

Even with such an accomplishment, the young dancer insists that there’s a long way to go.

“This is my goal, but there are many layers to it. I've achieved the beginning of the goal, but really the end goal is to be made principal with the company. For any ballet dancer, that's the end goal and that's what I'm going to be working towards.”

Still, Ravi acknowledged, even if he does everything right, there’s no guarantee it will ever happen.

“That's the thing with this. It really comes down to when dancers are retiring and if space is freed up. And then you can work your way up through the ranks. Obviously, you have to work hard.

“You can't just be gifted and promoted up through the ranks just because you are who you are. It's an equal balance between the right time and also the work you put in. So I'm fully aware that being made a principal may not happen for me, but that is my goal.”

Performances in Cinderella prevented Ravi from coming home for the holidays; however “home” is never far from his heart.

He is grateful for the constant support that he gets from his parents, Sophia Cannonier and Michael Watson, sister Vidya Cannonier-Watson and people in Bermuda.

“I'll say it again and again, I am the vessel of the support I've been given by my family, the people of Bermuda, my friends here that I've had throughout the school journey,” he said.

“You go back to the very beginning of when I first [applied to] the school. You take 2,500 boys, you turn that into 12. Me being one of those 12 is already a crazy stat to see. But then you go from being the only boy from those original 12 to make it through the entire school with an assessment every year, to then be accepted into the company ― the only boy for that matter ― and then go on to get a professional contract. I literally have done the full gauntlet of the Royal Ballet School into The Royal Ballet Company.”

The success is likely a mix of genes, physical traits and hard work, he said.

“You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't put in that hard work, that extra bit, talent doesn't count for anything. I wouldn't say I'm gifted or talented in any aspect, I've just worked super hard on myself.

“My constant chasing of perfection and never being satisfied I think, it's what got me this far. I've never wanted to stand still when things go right. I'm always seeking more, wanting to do more and be better in not just dance, but everything.”

He believes many Bermudians have the talent to achieve just as much in their respective fields of interest.

“I want to be the one that's paved the way, to show that it's possible for Bermudians to make it on a global scale. We as people are so talented and it's a shame, really, that some people don't get off the island and show their gifts. I want to be one of the people that help lead the younger generations, help them to believe that they can make a difference in the world, not just in Bermuda.”

• For more information on Royal Ballet School, visitwww.royalballetschool.org.uk/. To learn more about The Royal Ballet, visithttps://www.rbo.org.uk/about/the-royal-ballet