Dancers are en point

Competitors from the Morayfield-based FootworksDance school achieved an impressive tally of high placings in the recent Australian Teachers of Dancing (ATOD) Queensland State Championships, held at Birkdale South State School.

Sienna Bennett and Charlotte Celere competed at sub junior level.

Eleven of the 15 competing students from FootworksDance gained at least one placing, as they were among more than 150 ATOD competitors.

Featuring dancers from as far south as the Queensland border and as far north as Atherton, the state championships comprised two days of classes and two days of performances while there were mini, sub junior, junior, intermediate and senior levels.

FootworksDance had students in all five genres: ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop.

Arahbella Ruddell gained a first and a third placing at intermediate level, while Charlotte Celere gained a first and a highly commended placing at sub junior level.

Verity Lightfoot gained a fourth and a highly commended placing at junior level, while Sienna Bennett gained two highly commended placings in the sub juniors.

Kyla Cook (second in junior hip hop), Esther Jimmy (third in junior hip hop), Shyla Bakic (third in intermediate hip hop), Charlee Howe (third in senior jazz), Taylor Osborne (fourth in senior jazz), Maddy D’rozario (fourth in senior tap) and Chelsea McCallum (commended in mini ballet) gained one placing each.

FootworksDance director Liz Barritt said she was “blown away” by the results of the FootworksDance students, while those who missed a placing were mostly in their first year.

“The students have been rehearsing these dances all year and going to other local competitions in preparation for this event,” she said.

“This is a long preparation with having to achieve the top exam results before being able to be offered this opportunity.

“The students would be practising at home plus also rehearsing with their teacher once a week in a solo class lesson.”

Nine of the FootworksDance students are set to go on to compete in the ATOD national championships in Adelaide during July, due to their top-four placings at state level.