Warrnambool aerialist to train with Le PeTiT CiRqUe in Los Angeles

Matilda jets to America next month, where she'll be participate in intensive training with Le PeTiT CiRqUe in Los Angeles, the world's only youth/prodigies production company touring the globe with its humanitarian work.

The 17-year-old was initially accepted to join a program with the company early last year, and said now that she was finally going, it had become "real".

"The hype is fading a bit because I've been thinking about it and talking about it so much, that I'm at the point where I'm just so excited to get on the plane and be there," she said.

"I just want to go right now because I think the wait's been too long."

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She has trained in aerial hoop and silks, and through the program will expand her skills to handstands, contortion, stunt work, acrobatics and acting.

The Warrnambool College student was accepted for a two-week summer intensive this year, but now that she is older, she can participate in a lengthier program.

"Hopefully that can lead into more permanent opportunities, with contracts for shows and other touring programs," she said.

Throughout the past two years she has participated in training via video with those involved in the program.

"It was good to meet them (online) even though I wasn't there because we were stuck with nothing to do here," Matilda said.

She will be joined by acrobats from across the world.

Matilda will live with a host family an hour from LA.

"My main focus is just going over there and training with them and just learning, experiencing, looking and observing a ton of stuff because here we're so isolated from everything," she said.

"If I want more of that advanced training I have to travel to places like Brisbane and Melbourne and everywhere in Australia.

"So just going over there and seeing everything and how big it is on a scale compared to here, will just be an experience in itself."

Matilda has undertaken calisthenics classes for 11 years, and aerials for seven years.

"I started aerials when I was younger and didn't necessarily care about it, but when I got into competitions and I started doing really well in it, I fell more in love with it and realised more that I could do it as a career," she said.

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