Priorities set for dancer

Ezekiel Fiso has all the moves.

The Aotea 11-year-old has been a stand-out for the past two years at the Phoenix Dance Convention in Palmerston North, winning a scholarship each year to return.

He says the convention is difficult, even in the beginners’ section in which he competes.

But he is happy to come through with the judges’ stamp of approval.

‘‘I was introduced to the competition by one of my dance teachers [from the Tracey Odell School of Modern Dance in Tawa] and I decided to have a go.

‘‘It was a challenge but I really enjoyed being a part of it.’’

Classes went all day over April 21-22, with a Dancing with the Stars style climax on the Sunday.

Fiso took part in workshops for funk, musical theatre, jazz, lyrical and his favourite, hip hop, and had to learn a choreographed set, which tested his burgeoning dancing skills to the limit.

He flourished under the watchful eye of tutors and judges, how- ever, and was given the top dancer accolade for the beginners’ section, beating hundreds of other contestants.

Dancing since 2007, the Scots College pupil says it takes a lot of effort to balance his schoolwork, rugby and dancing.

‘‘Dancing gives me the chance to express myself, I have a lot of fun but learn a lot of discipline.’’

He wants to ‘‘keep my options open’’ about the possibility of becoming a professional dancer, with a law degree his tertiary ambition.