Stepping out of comfort zone
Bulls kids light up the dance floor
‘‘It was fun and it was a good learning experience for me.’’ Tamai Patas, 13
A group of Manawatu¯ school children could be future stars of the stage, after a visit from a Royal New Zealand Ballet dance educator.
Lucy Marinkovich was at Bulls School and Colyton School yesterday, but it wasn’t strictly ballet on the agenda. She was teaching the children general and creative movement, including bits that are part of the company’s show, Dancing with Mozart.
It didn’t take long for the children to pick up the basics and they were prancing around in no time, including 13-year-old Tamai Patas.
‘‘It was fun and it was a good learning experience for me, because I’m not really a dancer,’’ Tamai said. ‘‘I enjoyed it.’’
Monty Gibson, 10, took part when another dance educator visited last year and he wanted to have another go. ‘‘It was just fun to come back and do it again and do some different dance techniques.’’
Eden Brown, 10, said some of the steps were difficult, but it was really fun.
Marinkovich travels the country teaching dancing in schools and to community groups. ‘‘They just love it. The thing that’s cool is people learn in such different ways.’’
She also visited Rangitı¯kei College on Monday and was heading to Levin tomorrow.