Taree dancers among the best in State ballet awards

To be held at The Concourse in Chatswood this Sunday, Coco Solomon will dance in the Joan and Monica Halliday Awards (for younger students), before Jasinta Birchall, Mahalia Adamson and Mia Paske take on their own levels in the Isobel Anderson Memorial Awards.

"They've worked so hard. Getting to the finals is such a recognition," said dance school principal Andrea Rowsell.

"It also puts Taree on the map for people and it's nice for them to show they're worthy and you can be trained equally as well in the country as in the city. I know they'll all look beautiful on the day and all shine in their special way."

Andrea said the result is not only great for the students but for the teachers and what they are giving the students.

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It's the third time 11-year-old Coco has competed in the Joan and Monica awards, last year receiving the Prudence Bowen Memorial Award for most outstanding junior.

One hundred dancers started in the grade five level of the competition this year and Coco is one of only 10 to advance to the final.

"I was really shocked when my number was called out," Coco said. "There was a number of really good kids in the section. I'm really happy.

"I'll just go out there and do my best and try and be a bit different to the other kids in my way of dancing," she said about her plans for the finals.

Coco enjoys attending competitions, saying, "I like it because I get to see a lot of different talent around and learn different ways people dance."

This is the first year Jasinta Birchall, 13, has competed in the Isobel Anderson Awards, last year making the finals of the Joan and Monica awards (and the semi-finals the year previously).

She is in the Intermediate Foundation level and one of about 13 dancers remaining from the 90 who started.

"I love to see the other talent and how all the different choreographers teach as well. I just love it because it's really fun to do. It's something different and it's nice to meet new people."

On Sunday Jasinta will be putting a lot of focus on her preparation and warm up.

"I'm just going to do it the best I can and have fun.

"I'm excited and I feel very happy I was able to get into it again, and very thankful. There was a lot of really good girls in my group," she said.

Eighty dancers started in the Intermediate level of the Isobel Anderson awards, including 14-year-old Mahalia Adamson who is among the 10 finalists.

"I was really excited when I got in again," said Mahalia, who was also selected as a finalist last year.

"Just because you make it one year, doesn't mean you'll make it another year. Everyone was amazing."

Her goal for Sunday is to do her best and stay in the moment.

"I want to do the best that I can do and not worry about the exercise before if it wasn't what I wanted and not let it affect me."

This is Mahalia's second year in the Isobel Anderson awards and the second time she has reached the finals.

She competed in the Joan and Monica awards for two years previously.

She enjoys taking part for many reasons.

"I like it because often there are quite a few of the same kids each year and you get to see each other and see how they've progressed over the year.

"It's also nice to do classwork and not doing dances that are specific to you to show off your technique."

Mia Paske, 14, will be taking on the final in the Advanced Foundation level.

"I was quite surprised to hear my number this year," she said.

"By now everyone is doing fulltime and I'm not doing fulltime and they all dance all day every day. I thought I had less of a chance. I was really shocked and excited."

Mia said she's looking forward to performing on stage again, something she hasn't done in a while.

"I'm excited to be doing exercises I already know and I don't have to worry about remembering them. I'm really excited.

"I just love it so much. I love doing the classwork because I think it is a standard. You see people perform and how people work with exercises that aren't for everyone and how you make it work for you, and the different judges and their opinions.

"I'm just going to have fun and enjoy myself and do my best, and whatever happens, happens."

This is Mia's third year in the Isobel Anderson awards, following two years in the Joan and Monica awards (grades four and five).

She has made it to the finals each year, except for grade 5 where she made the semi-finals.

Another student from the dance school who also impressed in the Joan and Monica awards was Zoe Hutchison, who also competed in the grade five level.

While she didn't advance to the finals, Zoe was presented with an honourable mention by the judges.

"Out of that amount of dancers it was wonderful they recognised her. The classwork was all beautiful," said Andrea, who will be travelling to Sydney along with a carload or more of spectators to watch and support each of the dancers in the finals.

Already proud of her dancers for what they have achieved, she said being part of competitions like this gives the dancers a chance to learn more about a future dance career if they want it.

"It's a little bit of pressure and you see how well they cope under pressure and perform in that environment," said Andrea.

"Every single one of them is worthy."

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