After dancing a classical and a contemporary solo before a capacity crowd in the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House on Sunday night, Jordan (16) was awarded the $15,000 scholarship, $3000 cash prize and an array of other prizes.
"It hasn't really registered. I was really shocked [at the win].
"There were so many talented people dancing."
She was one of eight dancers from 157 to make it through a series of warm-up classes, heats, public performances and a semifinal masterclass over two weeks into the final, judged by a panel including top Australian ballerina, Marilyn Jones, Wim Broeckx, dance department director Royal Conservatoire in the Hague and artistic president of international dance competition, the Prix de Lausanne and Sydney Dance Company artistic director Rafael Bonachela.
One of the judges, David McAllister, the Australian Ballet artistic director, said Jordan and the male recipient of the second scholarship, Evan Loudon, had excelled at every level of the competition.
Jordan, who has been studying for the past two years at the Prudence Bowen Atelier on Australia's Gold Coast, clinched the win with her contemporary solo Alina, choreographed by Louise Deleur to music by Arvo Part.
The experience of dancing in front of more than 2000 people at the Opera House was a "big jump" from Dunedin competitions she was more used to competing in, Jordan said.
"I almost didn't walk out on stage, I was that nervous.
"It was mind-blowing."
Next month , she plans to take the final exam of the Royal Academy of dancing syllabus and in November will head to London to participate in the Genee International Ballet Competition and audition for a place at the Royal Ballet School.
"I've still got to work hard, train hard and push towards my goals."
The scholarship, which gives her the opportunity to attend classes with national ballet companies in Australia and Britain, and prizemoney would help towards those goals and take the pressure off her Dunedin-based parents who supported her, she said.
Dunedin School of Ballet and Dance teacher Robyn Sinclair said she was very excited and proud of her former pupil.
