Backstage takes centre stage

Backstage Dance Academy student Sophie Beaty, 11, won several awards at the Showcase National Dance Championships held in Queensland this month.

By LACHLAN MOORHEAD

A NARRE WARREN-based dance school continues to go from strength to strength.
Four students from Backstage Dance Academy qualified for the Showcase National Dance Championships held in Queensland this month, with the dance school achieving its best results since starting up seven years ago.
Sophie Beaty, Ashley Diamond, Tahlia Williams and Kiara Drzewinksi all qualified for the national competition, held at Jupiters Hotel and Casino on the Gold Coast.
Backstage Dance Academy director Jessica said the Showcase national competition was held over several days, from 12 January to 19 January.
“For Showcase, the regional competitions are run all over Australia and New Zealand, and those students who receive a high enough mark qualify for the national competition,” Ms Solomon said.
Sophie Beaty, 11, was crowned the national champion for her age group in Elite Ballet and Elite Lyrical this month.
Ms Solomon said all the students who qualified helped to achieve the dance school’s best national Showcase results yet.
“Sophie was super happy, we expected her to do really well but she exceeded everyone’s expectations as far as taking out so many national titles,” she said.
“Not everyone can win.
“This is our best outing for sure; we only had two students go up last year. It’s still a new venture for us, we’ve only been participating in competitions for the last five years.
“The aim was always to grow as a school and get bigger and better each year.”