Ararat dance students shine

Ararat dance students are set to perform jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, glee and hip-hop styles at concerts in Ararat Town Hall this weekend.

The students will be on stage for Dynamic Dance Ararat’s 10th annual concert – ‘A Night to Remember: Celebrating 10 years of dance’.

Concerts will be at 6.30pm on Friday and 1pm and 6.30pm, Saturday.

Studio principal Laura Cameron said teachers Chris Carey, Charlotte Hamilton, Danielle Courtier, Emily Trigg, Holly Allgood, Giselle Allgood, Jami Blomeley and Rachel Koenig had been working hard with the students to create dance routines.

The concert is part of what is a big year for the Ararat group.

Ms Cameron said plans after the concert weekend included a trip for 35 dancers and their families to America as part of a Global Dance Tour.

“On the tour, students will perform three half-hour routines of their own dancing and participate in dance workshops while they are there,” she said.

“They will perform outside Madame Tussauds on the Hollywood Boulevard strip, on the Hollywood Backlot Stage in California Adventure Park and Universal Studios at the City Walk Stage.

“They will also have the opportunity to take part in workshops at the world famous The Edge Performing Arts Centre, Millennium Dance Complex and a Disney Performing Arts workshop.”

Dynamic Dance Ararat students have also competed in national Dancestar titles in Queensland, achieving outstanding results.

Holly Allgood won national titles in Improvisation Routine and Jazz Solo – Secondary Senior Uptempo Legend categories. She also came second in a broadway audition, fourth with her lyrical routine and performed strongly in lyrical audition.

Bonnie Mellor came third in glee audition and fifth for her glee solo and with Holly, Daina Jerram and Laura Rafferty collected third place for a glee trio.