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It came as little surprise to those who knew Rachel Barbar that she had chosen to leave

conventional high school to pursue a career in dance. Her passion for the art began when

she was in the womb. Her mother Elizabeth would press headphones to her bare belly and

feel her unborn daughter moved to the sounds of classical music. 15-year-old Rachel, as

well as her younger sisters, 11-year-old Ashley Rose and 9-year-old Heather, inherited

the flair for the creative arts that ran in their extended family, which boasted a children's

author, photographer, artist, writer, toymaker, and designer. As a young child, Rachel directed

and choreographed performances at home for her sisters to star in. As her enthusiasm for

classical ballet flourished, Rachel enrolled in classes at the Melbourne Dance Academy and

would spend her lunch breaks at primary school practicing her routines in the hall. At home,

her bedroom cupboards were crammed full of leotards, tights, and to dance shoes, which

she often pulled out for her younger sisters to dress up in. She dreamed of becoming a professional

performer who ran her own studio. Regarded as a natural beauty, Rachel posed for her grandmother's

...