The dance section of the Taree and District Eisteddfod starts on May 1.
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Entries are up on last year with 2060 compared to 1984 entries last year. Sixteen dance schools have entered the group sections.
The dance section has been split this year with the novice and groups scheduled from May 1 to 7 and the district and open sections between May 13 and 21.
It means the section will not clash with those undertaking their NAPLAN assessment at school.
Due to the size of the dance section, the eisteddfod commonly has two adjudicators who share the role.
Novice and groups – Donna Lierse
Adjudicator for the novice and dance group sections of the Taree and District Eisteddfod Donna Lierse hopes to encourage young dancers to strive to be the best they can be.
She is known for her in-depth reports and extends an invitation to teachers, students or parents to talk to her at the end of the competition about details.
Donna has vast experience as a teacher, performer, choreographer and examiner.
Her initial training started at the age of five with Coral Brown School of Dancing and continued for another 16 years with Coral, Debra Henderson and Shirley Jones.
Gaining distinction in her Associate, Licentiate and Fellow Teaching Cecchetti Teaching exams.
She also received honours for every examination from Pre-Primary to Advanced Modern and tap exams.
She also received distinction for her modern and tap ISTD teaching exams. At the age of 25, Donna received her Fellowship in the Cecchetti method and is now an examiner with the Southern Federation of Dance.
Donna opened her own dance studios in Eltham and Epping.
As her own family grew she moved to Bendigo to establish the extremely successful Bendigo Dance Academy, which has given her experience and expertise providing both the professional and recreational student to develop into many genres in the dance industry.
Donna is now a highly respected and sought after examiner, adjudicator and guest teacher.
She holds a Bachelor of Education (secondary) Home Economics and Dance and currently is dance co-ordinator and artistic director within several Bendigo secondary schools, implementing and teaching VCE Dance, Wakakirri and Production.
Her career productions include Show Boat, Hairspray, Cinderella and High School Musical.
Donna is an affiliate member of the Cecchetti International Classical Ballet, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing London, Australian teachers of Dancing, Southern Federation of Dancing and Australian Dance Adjudicators.
She sold her academy in 2011 to pursue examining and adjudicating but is still Classical Dance Director and oversees classes in all facets of dance for CMS Danceworx in Bendigo, teaching all levels of ballet and choreographing troupe routines in classical, lyrical, jazz, tap, hip hop, broadway and modern dance.
Donna fits in guest teaching and workshops in the Central Victoria area.
Many of her students have gone onto great success, winning awards and appearing in professional musical theatre productions.
When it comes to her adjudicating, Donna is known for her in-depth reports. She extends an invitation at the end of the competition to talk to her about details from teachers, students and parents.
District and Open – Lesley Scott
Lesley Scott is the adjudicator of the district and open dance sections of the Taree and District Eisteddfod.
Lesley is the managing director of Dance Encore Productions and the principal of the Dance Encore Performing Arts Studio.
She has 30 years experience as a professional producer, director and choreographer.
Her professional career spans 40 years including Australian tours of Show White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Flintstones, Peter Pan, My Fair Lady and Irene (Australian tour/West End – London UK) and principal dancer with the Australian Opera.
She formed an adagio/acrobatic act with her husband Bruce and toured the world performing in some of the most famous theatres, nightclubs and cabarets including the Silver Jubilee Royal Command Performance in London, followed by starring roles in 1001 Nights at the Hong Kong Palace Casino and Soir De Gala at the Wrest Point Casino in Tasmania.
Dance Encore Productions began in 1980 supplying professional entertainment to Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, Japan and South Korea.
Through her expertise as a teacher and choreographer, Lesley has given many singers and dancers the opportunity to pursue professional careers within Australia and overseas.
In 2004 the the Dance Encore Performing Arts Studio opened in Sydney and during the past three years she has adjudicated several scholarships and eisteddfods as well as incorporating guest teaching at the McDonald College (musical theatre, dance and gymnastics).