DANCE TROOPERS
Managing 50 people is a hard task for anyone but these four Year 12 girls have done the impossible, choreographing a routine for dozens of their Coombabah State High for in the Spotlight 2018.
More than 800 enthusiastic young performers, including 50 from Coombabah State High, pooled their talents to stage the spectacular Danc’ed in the Spotlight
HUNDREDS of Gold Coast students have come together to put on a dance spectacular on the Gold Coast last week.
More than 800 students from 24 schools performed in the annual Danc’ed in the Spotlight, a non-competitive event celebrating dance in education. Among them were 50 Coombabah State High School students, performing a dance choreographed by some of the Gold Coast’s up-andcoming talents.
Year 12 students Hollie O’Meara, Isabelle O’Meara, Leonie Albert and Celine Poumale, all just 17 years-old, worked together to come up with their group performance.
Isabelle O’Meara said it was a challenge to come up with a dance for such a large team after so many years working with her twin sister Hollie.
“It was really a struggle because we’re used to choreographing for smaller groups or just for us in a pair,” she said.
“Because me and Holly work together so well, not many other people can adjust to that and get it as well as my twin sister does.
“We had to take simple choreography and adapt it to a really big group, as well as incorporate a range of styles that would work for different people.”
For teacher and Danc’ed in the Spotlight Committee member Chloe Richards, it’s all
about seeing her students succeed.
“They’ve always been very open to feedback and take every opportunity I’ve ever given them in a very positive and mature way,” she said.
“Now they’re at a point where they could branch out and spread their wings into any arts industry and do well.”
This is the festival’s 16th year, with its growth now making it the largest event of its kind in the state and possibly the country.
Run by volunteer teaches, all schools work together with a professional performer for the opening act, at the same time joining in on free workshops in all styles.
Other schools performing included Robina State High, Helensvale State High, Marymount College and Pimpama State Secondary College.
For these students the excitement of the performance might be over, but with graduation looming Leonie Albert said she was not ready to let go of dance just yet.
”My family were all dancers before me, so even if I don’t make it in my career I want to always have some place or something I can do that’s based around dance,” she said.
“Then I can still use it as my way of expressing myself, which is what dance has taught me to do.”