TWO local students have been offered an opportunity of a lifetime and danced their way to receiving scholarships to a New York dance school.
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The dance workshop and scholarship selection process held at Oxley High School on Wednesday, was the only regional workshop of six being conducted by the Broadway Dance Center (BDC) in Australia.
At the end of the three-hour workshop and an audition process, Peel High School’s Brianna Dyson and Oxley High School’s Abi Smith received scholarships under the International Student Visa Program.
For the BDC Australian liaison and international booking representative who grew up, trained and performed in Tamworth before following her successful dance career, Kristi Cini, it was a proud and emotional moment.
She said, as she grew up and had taught dance here, she had at some stage met and worked with most of the students in attendance.
“I am thrilled to be able to give this opportunity to students here,” Ms Cini said.
“I received the best technical training growing up in Tamworth but, having lived and worked in New York, I now see how much dance students don’t have access to in regional centres.
“It is great to be able to bring this opportunity to Tamworth.”
BDC choreographer Ashlé Dawson conducted three workshops in dance studios in Sydney before the Tamworth event. Ms Dawson was in the top four
contestants of the first season of the US, So You Think You Can Dance television program and will travel to Brisbane and Perth dance schools before returning to the US.
More than 60 students from four Tamworth secondary schools and two Armidale high schools met the challenges the workshop presented them before those interested in auditioning for the scholarships were asked to step forward and give their best.
“Over half of those attending stepped forward and it was amazing to watch them,” Ms Cini said. “At times I had goose- bumps watching them and I am so proud of each and every one.”