Three students from the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance will compete in the finals of the Isobel Anderson Memorial Awards in Sydney this Sunday (March 21).
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All from Old Bar, Mahalia Adamson, 15, Wil Hellstedt, 14, and Coco Solomon, 12, found out last Friday they had successfully made it through and have had a week to prepare their classical variation (which they performed in their exam last year) and port de bras.
"We have to do our variation and our set Isobel Anderson port de bras and a contemporary choreographic piece," said Wil.
Dance school principal Andrea Rowsell said the contemporary choreographic piece will show the contrast for them as dancers and is part of a new format for the competition.
The awards are held by the Royal Academy of Dance for dancers from across New South Wales.
Mahalia was one of 45 to 50 candidates to start in the Advanced Foundation level and is one of 10 to make the final.
"It's a really exciting time to get into the finals," she said.
"A lot of other people are fulltime and I'm not yet. It's really cool that I can still keep up with them even though they are doing far more than I am."
Wil began with at least 80 candidates in intermediate and is among 12 competing in the final.
"I've been lucky, this is my third time." He said he is looking forward to seeing his friends again and having a great opportunity.
Coco started as one of 108 candidates in the intermediate foundation heat and is one of 12 to make the final.
"I'm really grateful to have the opportunity for the third year in a row. I'm really excited and I'm thankful to have such great teachers and friends down there with me to support me," she said.
Andrea said it was a great achievement for them all.
"It's not like they fluked it. They've made it and shown they belong there.
"Each year they get older and it gets harder as the competition gets stronger and they are mixing with kids who want to pursue dance. They are holding their own and its a credit to them.
"This is a NSW competition and the kids have been up and down the highway a number of times during the week and their parents have had to shuffle a lot of things around.
"They need these opportunities as regional kids and they need to be given the opportunity. It builds resilience.
"You never know in a competition whether you are what they're looking for or whether you're their type," she added.
Due to COVID restrictions, the competition won't be performed on the stage but in a studio setting with a small audience.
Andrea will be among the audience and said she "can't wait".
This year's competition will also celebrate 100 years of the Royal Academy of Dance and a centenary medal will be presented the day after the competition to someone who showed exceptional artistry and performance.
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