Pursuing ballet for half of her life, Satya Tranfield could still be dancing 70 years from now.

You see, Satya Tranfield is only 9 years old. But according to her instructor, Alexey Kulpin, Satya is uniquely gifted, and could be pirouetting in a grand way on the big stage one day.

The oldest of Fred and Lilly’s two children, Satya’s serious aura counters her playful, and visibly bored, little brother, who’s in tow at the Mount Pleasant, S.C., studio.

Her father is filming the lesson, not for posterity, but “for notes,” he said. “She reviews every still to see where she needs to improve.”

As devoted as the children must be to study ballet, the parents must be even more so. Fred is a yoga instructor, and his wife is a homemaker. The economy has weakened even in this tourist Mecca, so fewer people engage in quality of life activities such as yoga.

The investment’s worth it for such promising young dancers if for only a college scholarship. “But I see her with even greater potential,” says Kulpin.

Kulpin, who teaches children all along the South Carolina coast, was principal dancer for the Charleston Ballet until the nonprofit company went broke recently. With offers coming from companies around the country, Kulpin has found opportunity in this rather sophisticated Southern town.

Meanwhile, Satya will join hundreds of other student dancers who will compete March 1-3 in Atlanta during the Youth America Grand Prix Competition (http://www.yagp.org/eng/yagp2013.php). Atlanta is one of 12 cities hosting the prestigious ballet competition. The winners from each of the regional competitions will go to New York City for the final competition April 12-17.