Dancing to the top

By Emma Sun
CRANBOURNE youngster Joel Murphy will be one of 12 Year 7 students to attend the Victorian College of the Arts next year.
The 12-year-old, who dances contemporary, classical ballet and hip-hop, was selected for the prestigious school out of hundreds of applicants across Australia.
He has been learning hip-hop dancing through J-Step Dance for three years and the other dances through Contemporary Independent Dance for two years.
He is also a keen tap-dancer.
Director of Contemporary Independent Dance and Joel’s dance teacher Nicole Jacobsson said he was a talented dancer that the school would be sad to let go.
“We’re excited for him but we’re also sad to have him move on,” she said.
“Our aim is to prepare them the best we can for the world of dance and send them off and sit back and enjoy watching how far he can go.”
She said Joel is an outstanding student who is keen to learn and the Victorian College of the Arts is a great platform for him to do that.
“He is 100 percent committed to his dance,” she said.
“He’s a wonderful student and friend to all the other dancers, very consistent, always working hard and striving.
“The school is extremely elite and very difficult to get into. It is one of the highest training facilities that Victoria offers, so very big opportunity.”
Joel said he was proud to be accepted into the school and thanked everyone for their help and support.
“I feel really good about getting in, I worked hard for it,” Joel said.
“I’d really like to thank Jayde Robertson, my hip-hop teacher, Nicole Jacobsson and Ben, my tap and dance teacher.”