It’s been a big year for young dancer Ava Gilbert.
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The seven-year-old from Wingham has taken out top prizes and special awards at dance competitions in Taree, Forster and Port Macquarie, and won the chance to extend her skills with opportunities in Sydney and Melbourne.
A student with the Kerrie Renee Dance Studio at Wingham, she competed in 15 solos at Live to Dance in Forster during July and was awarded 11 first places and four seconds. She placed first in the classical and jazz championships and was runner-up in the modern.
At the conclusion of the competition, Ava received the Junior Rising Star award for dancers in the 10 years and under division, which includes a week-long all expenses paid summer camp at the Brent Street Performing Arts School in Sydney during January.
Ava also had huge success at the Follow Your Dreams competition at Port Macquarie where she danced in all styles and went on to win the Mini Champion Dancer Award, receiving a tiara, sash and prize money.
As a result, she was selected to compete at the national Follow Your Dreams competition in Melbourne in January, although her mum Renee said it is unlikely she will take it up on this occasion. “There’s plenty of time for things like that,” she said.
This all comes on top of a successful Taree and District Eisteddfod, where she danced in eight years, 10 years and 12 years sections (“They don’t have a lot of sections for eight years and under,” explained Renee), placing first in the 12 years District Slow Tap and the eight years Open Jazz Solo and 3rd in the 10 years jazz and modern sections.
Most recently, Ava was named Kerrie Renee Dance Studio’s junior scholarship winner, which means six months of free class tuition.
“It’s pretty exciting for us,” said Renee. “When you are only seven and to win a junior scholarship, we’re very blessed and thankful. She’s one very lucky girl.”
A swimmer herself growing up, Renee never anticipated her daughter would be a dancer.
“It was more for her. She was always wanting to dance. I had no background in dance, but she always asked to do it.”
Ava started dance lessons when she was four and Renee secured a job where she could work school hours so she was still able to get her to classes.
“From the moment she started, she just loved it,” said Renee. “As she started doing more she said ‘I want to dance on stage by myself’.”
At the age of five she began private lessons and, Renee said, they chose the small Ritz and Glitz dance competition in Forster to see if she liked being on stage by herself, “and the rest is history”.
“Two years on and she dances in all styles and has multiple solos in each style. She loves it and always wants more and more.”
Ava now attends dance classes four afternoons a week, has three private lessons each week and also does rhythmic gymnastics with Rachel Martin from Flexion Fitness one afternoon a week.
She competes in a range of styles including slow tap, fast tap, modern, jazz, Broadway jazz, contemporary, demi character and classical and is also in a duo and dance groups.
“She just loves being on stage and the way it makes her feel. It takes her to another place,” said Renee.
“I love it just because she loves it. Dancing has never been my thing. I’ve had to become and dance mum and I love it.
“To see her on stage and to see what she can do – she's just an amazing little girl.”