Talent on show as dancers take to Lardner Park stage

The 27th West Gippsland Dance Festival was conducted over 10 days of the school holidays at Lardner Park.

The program featured about 2100 performances from dance schools from Warragul as well as across Gippsland and metropolitan Melbourne.

Committee president Shona Jeffrey was awarded life membership on the final day of competition.

First place recipients were:

Six years and under: classical Alexandra Procter and Skye Ingram; demi-character - Skye Ingram; modern/jazz - Emmersyn Presley and India Woods; song and dance - Sienna Doolin; tap - Jackson Kheissy.

Seven years and under nine, novice: classical - Charlotte Pichler and Ruby Griffiths; demi-character - Felicity Soroka; modern/jazz - Ruby Griffiths; song and dance - Mikayla Huseyin; tap - Charlee Vincent.

Seven years and under nine, open: classical - Lucie Doody; demi-character - Ebony Ricupito; modern/jazz Kyra Zione; song and dance - Lucie Doody; tap - Amelia Tunks.

Under nine, open: neo-classical/creative - Lucie Doody and Ebony Ricupito.

Nine years and under 11, novice: classical - Matilda Richmond; demicharacter - Sam McSweeney; modern/jazz - Summah Aitken; song and dance - Alexia Costanzo; tap - Nathan Ingram; neo-classical/creative Isabelle Nicoli and Sam McSweeney.

Nine years and under 11, open: classical - Ashlea Rush and Ruby Strickland; demi-character - Kaylee Bozelle; modern/jazz - Sam McSweeney and Ashlea Rush; song and dance - Ruby Strickland; tap Kaylee Bozelle; neo-classical/creative - Ashlea Rush and Zi Sione.

11 years and under 13, novice: classical - Jack O’Toole and Man Ling Zhou; demi-character - Lani Vilcins; modern/jazz - Man Ling Zhou and Lani Vilcins; song and dance - Ava Howden; tap - Jessica Ryan; neo-classical/creative - Zahara Ricupito and Man Ling Zhou.

11 years and under 13, open: classical - Holly Phillips and Laura Patton; demi-character - Ava McSweeney and Bethany Whittorn; modern/jazz Bethany Whittorn, Taylah Bozelle and Ava Howden; song and dance - Lily Strickland; tap - Kirra Irving; neo-classical/creative - Bethany Whittorn, Jessica Ryan and Eden Stewart; contemporary - Destini Damon.

Nine years and under 13: national Kirra Irving.

13 years and under 15, novice: classical - Charlotte Fraser; demi-character - Chelsea Spencer; modern/jazz Siobhan Cooper; song and dance Keely Nyko; tap - Myles Pollard; neoclassical/creative - Cindy-Jane Angus and Jorja Pugh.

13 years and under 15, open: classical - Natalie Stutz and Olivia West; demi-character - Natalie Stutz and Tess Hanna; modern/jazz - Olivia West, Ella McMillan and Ruby McKenna; song and dance - Tijana Van Der Meulen; tap - Holly Norris; neo-classical/creative - Ruby McKenna and Ella McMillan; contemporary - Ella McMillan and Caitlyn Phillips.

15 years and under 17, novice: classical - Briana Hyland; modern/jazz Shaylah Westwood; song and dance Jazlyn Smith; tap - Karla Hall; neoclassical/creative - Abigail Jettner.

15 years and over 17, open: classical - Tilly Lacey; demi-character - Tilly Lacey; modern/jazz - Katie Roberts and Molly Lousada; song and dance Lili Forsyth; tap - Caitlyn Irving; neoclassical/creative - Zoe Smith and Caitlyn Irving; contemporary - Caitlyn Irving.

17 years and over: classical - Jessica Roberts; demi-character - Jessica Roberts; modern/jazz - Jessica Roberts; song and dance - Jessica Roberts; tap - Jemma Douglas; neoclassical/creative - Isabel Hawthorne; contemporary - Molly Kealey.

13 years and over: national - Holly Norris and Katie Roberts.

10 years and under: modern/jazz Charlee Vincent and Kaylee Bozelle.

12 years and under: modern/jazz Ava Howden and Ava McSweeney; demi-character - Emily Euman and Taylah Pavey; song and dance - Jake Russell and Katyn Russell; tap - Emily Euman and Taylah Pavey; neo-classical/contemporary - Ayrlee Smith, Hayley Shankland and Katyn Russell/Alyssa Brooke, Chloe Van Zandan and Eden Stewart.

13 years and over: demi-character Caitlyn Phillips and Kira Spencer; song and dance - Indyana Hopman and Tijana Van Der Meulen; tap Bella Fraser and Jemma Douglas; neo-classical/contemporary - Ella McMillan, Natalie Stutz and Tess Hanna/Brooke Humphreys, Darci Gurney and Maggie Vos.

14 years and under: modern/jazz Harriett Parkinson and Keely Nyko.

15 years and over: modern/jazz Katie Roberts and Tess Sultana.

Preparing to take the stage at Lardner Park in a tap duo/trio section are Caitlin Phillips (left) and Kira Spencer. The girls received third place for the routine.

Above: Ayrlee Smith helps duo partner Hayley Shankland with some makeup prior to hitting the stage. The girls attend Upstaged Dance in Pakenham.Left: All smiles are (from left) Holly Phillips of Drouin, Maggie Dargan of Moe and Ruby-Lee Krieger and Emma McDougal of Warragul. The girls are from KC’s School of Dance.

Ella Duncan of KC’s School of Dance, Warragul performs a classical solo routine at the West Gippsland Dance Festival.

Jack O’Toole of Joanne O’Kelly School of Dance gained first place for this classical solo routine.