Students (from left) Caydee Whittle, Georgia Whittle, Zoe Reisima, Amy Bibby, Rebecca Bushett, Molly Kyle, Maggie Parsons, Belle Ward and Taylah Annand.
Students (from left) Caydee Whittle, Georgia Whittle, Zoe Reisima, Amy Bibby, Rebecca Bushett, Molly Kyle, Maggie Parsons, Belle Ward and Taylah Annand.
Students of Miss Tutus School of Dance recently returned from their first international Highland dancing competition, the International Highland Dancing Festival of Australia, held in Gosford, Sydney.
At the three-day event, with more than 370 competitors and adjudicated by nine judges, the team performed in individual events competing among the best dancers in Australasia.
The competition began on Friday July 28 with the Premier Irish Jig and Hornpipe Challenge.
Teacher Holly Keir and student Rebecca Bushett on day two with her top three Individual Medals.
Saturday’s events consisted of the Pre-Premier, Pre-Championship and Premier Aggregate Awards. Team member Maggie Parsons gained Overall Runner-Up in her Pre-Premier event and Rebecca Bushett placed in the top three of the Aggregate Premier 14yrs group.
The competition concluded on the Sunday with the biggest event, the International Highland Dancing Open Championships, Supporting Events, and National Cup. Team members Rebecca Bushett and Amy Bibby gained top-six individual Championship Medals in their respective age categories and Zoe Reisima gained Championship Points.
Teacher Sarah de Bruin and student Amy Bibby on day three with her top-six Individual Championship Medal.
Caydee Whittle also gained top 3 placings in her respective age group in the National Cup.
Accompanied by teachers Sarah de Bruin and Holly Keir, who have competed and won at this event in the past, the team left it all out on the dance floor, gaining individual placings and representing New Zealand with pride.
The team would like to express their thanks to the Central Hawke’s Bay community for their support in allowing their first international competition trip to become a reality. At three times the scale of the biggest event in New Zealand. it was an invaluable experience for the young team.
