Rotorua dancer lands on his feet

Rotorua dancer Travis Khan is to dance in the Disney production of The Lion King in Australia.

Khan has been studying at the NZ School of Dance in Wellington for the past two years after completing a bachelor of performing and screen arts degree at Unitec in Auckland, where he majored in contemporary dance.

He was dancing in Wellington in November when he was spotted by the casting team from The Lion King who were auditioning singers in a room next door.

Khan, 24, will head to Australia at the end of next month for training.

The Sydney-based show is moving to Melbourne and will open there in July.

Khan believes his acting experience and dancing qualifications helped him to get the Australian part.

He is the second former Rotorua student to score a role in the production.

Turanga Merito, 20, who studied at Rotorua Lakes High School, plays Simba, king of the lions.

- NZPA