Baylee Longstaff wins dance scholarship

SPECIAL MOMENT: Baylee Longstaff has won a Phoenix Dance Workshop scholarship. Photo: Jack Penman

I was so stoked because I've been going to the workshop for so long.

Baylee Longstaff

Paraparaumu College student Baylee Longstaff's goal of winning a scholarship at the Phoenix Dance Workshop has finally been achieved.

In her sixth workshop, this time in Palmerston North, the 17-year-old won a return scholarship to the workshop next year.

Baylee took part in the intermediate category during the two-day workshop, which attracts professional dancers from around the world.

She was among 180 dancers in the category who took part in five dance sections from jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, lyrical and funk.

An audition for each of the five genres takes place on the second day where each teacher picks about 30 people to dance with them.

"I got into three of the genres - jazz, hip hop and lyrical."

After the five auditions, there was a large audition for scholarships.

Baylee got into the audition and was one of six dancers in her category to win a return scholarship to the workshop next year.

"I was so stoked because I've been going to the workshop for so long."

And it was a goal of hers to get one of the scholarships.

"But because I haven't been dancing this year, I just went for fun.

"I had put some much pressure on myself the previous years to get it."

"I don't dance anymore but I thought I would go to the workshop because it would be fun."

Baylee, who is the college's sports captain, has switched her focus from dance to sports where she plays netball, rugby and volleyball.

But she's looking forward to next year's dance workshop.

"So my mum doesn't have to pay all this money for me to go there next year," she grinned.

"I would have gone there anyway."