APPLEJACK, dwight swivel, boogie roll and quad rocker – to the uninitiated, it can seem like a foreign language.
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But to line dancing diehards, the choreographed dance is more than a sport, it’s a way of life.
So what better place to hold the national championships than at the home of country music during festival week?
Hundreds of competitors and supporters boot scooted into Calrossy this week for the 22nd annual Australian Line Dance Championships.
The five-day event, which finishes tomorrow, brings together the nation’s leading line dancers across a range of junior and senior age groups.
And Tamworth has already had a taste of gold, with local 12-year-old girls Annabella Agius and Kylie Ferguson claiming the 16 years and under category yesterday.
Performing an up-tempo skiffle time dance, the duo wowed the judges to snatch the top prize.
The girls’ instructor, Chris Watson from Tamworth’s Dare 2 Dance studio, said the girls performed “the dance of their lives”.
“Their unity, footwork and repetition was spot-on and Tamworth should be really proud,” Mr Watson said.
“They’ve been working on their routines for months and it’s wonderful to see their confidence grow.
“It’s the best I’ve seen them dance; they were really in the moment.”
Annabella and Kylie also claimed bronze when they teamed up with five other local girls in the 16 and under teams event.
The team, which also included Deanna Cotton, Elayne MacPherson, Caitlyn Withers, Kira Good and Matilda Agius, danced superbly to finish third in the category. Yesterday, Annabella kept the gold rush coming, winning first prize in the 12 and under section.
She also claimed silver in the 18 years and under category.