Dance stars shine

Clockwise from left: Lexi, Alanna, Ella, Amy and Annabelle. Picture Shawn Smits.

By Jessica Micallef

Four junior dancers – and their teacher – have starred in a national competition.

Ella, Annabelle, Alanna and Lexi, and their dance teacher, Amy Citroen, from Signature Cheer and Dance Studio in New Gisborne participated at the Follow Your Dreams Nationals.

Ms Citroen, the studio owner, said the girls shone after earning their way to the national championships at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne earlier this month.

“The girls had to qualify at the regional competitions during 2018 and place first or second and receive 86 points.”

Ms Citroen said the girls were over the moon at their results during the national competition.

“They were very excited,” she said. “Alanna cried because it was a big effort to compete in a large division, the under 16s division … it’s a tough division.

“Regular classes finished on December 15, but the girls went back between the Christmas and New Year break.

“Ella and Lexi have aims to go to the world championships and Alannah would like to teach dance … she’s been doing some assistant teaching.”

The dance teacher also took centre stage at the competition.

“I came out of retirement,” Ms Citroen said.

“I placed first in my broadway jazz masters and second place in my contemporary masters.”