Dancers tap to the top
Four girls have tapped their way to the top of the Te Awamutu Competition Society.
Aimee and Lucy Steele, both 11 from Cambridge, as well as Lily and Evie Wilkinson, 10 and 9, from Tamahere, finished the competition with various medals and trophies.
The Steele twins had been tap dancing for about five years, switching from ballet. They had been close friends with the Wilkinsons throughout their entire ballet and tap training.
The competition was national and had people from all over New Zealand competing.
Mother Loretta Wilkinson said tap had been great for the girls as it encouraged other behaviours.
‘‘It’s not always about the tap, it’s also about the discipline and doing something they also find fun.
‘‘It sort of is like a sport really,’’ she said.
One of the classes they entered at the competition was impromptu, where they listened to the song only three times before having to choreograph a dance to it. Evie said they pulled a name out of a hat, and whoever that was had to join them for the impromptu.
‘‘But it couldn’t be our sisters, so I got to go with Lucy and Lily got to go with Aimee.’’
Fortunately the girls had been friends so long it made it easier.
Their tap lessons are with Leanne Wotherspoon, who had been doing it for 40 years.
‘‘She’s so dedicated and the kids just love her,’’ said Wilkinson.
‘‘It's also about the discipline and doing something they also find fun.’’ Loretta Wilkinson