Wanganui takes on the world stage
STUDENTS from Wanganui Park Secondary College are being given a unique opportunity to excel in dancing, and that’s exactly what they are doing. With the school believed to be the only secondary college in the region offering the dancing class, and a new VCE class set to be introduced from next year, some students have already been offered scholarships and two were interviewed as part of World Ballet Day, which was broadcast to 6.7 million people across the world.
Wanganui Park Secondary College performing arts teacher, Kyla Mcgregor said, “Over the past few years I have been seeing a development in the student’s skills and we’re excited to be taking that to the next level by offering VCE dance next year.
“We had three of our students offered scholarships with Transit Dance in Melbourne, with two (Harry Watson and Abbigail Markin) taking up the opportunity in the recent school holidays. They undertook a two day intensive with Paul Malek.
“Following that they were requested by Australian Ballet to be interviewed as part of World Ballet Day, which was broadcast around the world, in particular to San Francisco, Moscow, Toronto and London. 6.7 million people tuned in which is amazing to see our students receive that kind of attention.
“Every semester I take the students to see a performance and complete a workshop and it was through this that the students were offered the scholarships and through our partnership and workshops with Australian Ballet that got Harry and Abbigail selected for the interview.
“Over the past few years the kids have worked with Bangarra, Chunky Move, Transit Dance and The Spaced and have seen the Sydney Dance Company perform.
“As part of the curriculum, the students have the chance to learn and create dance material and each semester we have a dance showcase. They have become so popular we outgrew the space we had at the school and have had to move the performances to Westside Performing Arts Centre.”
Harry, who is now looking to pursue dancing once he completes school, said, “To have had the opportunity to be interviewed and broadcast to so many people around the world was amazing. It was nerve-wracking but gave me more confidence.
“It’s great that the school offers dancing to people that want it.”
Abbigail, who is also looking at pursuing dancing following graduation from school, said, “The interview was very exciting because I had never done anything like it before.
“The opportunities that the school is offering is amazing and the dance community and industry are very supportive.”
