Between dancing, skateboarding and surfing (as well as school), the year four student from Old Bar Public School is always on the go.

The day before her first dance performance at the Taree and District Eisteddfod her mum Kelly found Ava outside their Wallabi Point home, wearing the tutu she was asked to try on and skateboarding on the street.

“On Sunday night I said to her that we hadn’t tried on her tutu since last year, so I asked her to try it on and I also asked her could she please practise her dance.

“When I went out the front, this is how we were practising!”

Recognising a chance to capture the two hobbies that are quite a juxtaposition to one another, Kelly pulled out her phone and snapped away.

“It was just one of those things, the lighting was just right and it was nearing sunset.”

Following her unconventional dance practice session, Ava went on to win her 10-years and under novice classical ballet solo section the next day.

A great result, but one that Kelly admits doesn’t help with the theory that you need to practice your serious dancing to do well.

Ava started dance classes when she was three years old.

“I started Ava in dancing when I was pregnant with my son because she was such a busy kid,” Kelly said.

“She just had lots of energy and we needed an activity for her and she just loves it.”

She’s a student at the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance where she takes classes in classical and jazz.

Ava took up skateboarding about 18 months ago.

It was a natural progression for her, as she has been surfing since she was three.

“She’s a pretty busy kid. She loves dancing, surfing and skating and she can’t pick between them.”

Ava has competed in a number of solo sections throughout the eisteddfod and also won the 10 years and under District Jazz Solo section, which Kelly said was tough competition.

The dance section of the Taree and District Eisteddfod concludes this Sunday, May 21.