Young Wanaka dancers held their heads high in the Dance Southland junior competitions held in Invercargill last weekend (February 27-28) and returned home with honours and ribbons.

The junior competition for dancers aged 12 years and younger was attended by four novice ballet dancers, two from Pointe Central and two from Dance Wanaka.

The youngest, six-year-old Audrey Cretney made her solo debut at a competition and was placed first in the Novice age category for six to seven-year-olds and achieved second place in the Open Ballet category for six-year-olds.

“This was a huge accomplishment for her,” Pointe Central’s Briony Martin said of Audrey’s solo performance.  

Although both Audrey and Holly Ingham take ballet classes at Dance Wanaka, former professional ballerina Briony choreographed their ballet solos

In the Novice category for dancers aged 10 to 12 years, Pointe Central dancers Lenni Miller and Vaali Hocking were placed first and second respectively and Holly was placed third.

Lenni Miller (12), Audrey Cretney (6) and Vaali Hocking (12) at the Dance Southland Junior Comp last weekend.

The competition had to be modified slightly on Sunday to account for the restrictions imposed with the introduction of the Covid-19 alert level two overnight, including separating the audience in the auditorium from the competitors who were only permitted one support person.

Five Wanaka dancers also headed north yesterday (Thursday March 4) to attend the South Island Ballet Awards, Briony said. 

Hosted by the Christchurch Ballet Society at the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch, these annual awards are an opportunity for junior and senior dancers to win cash scholarships to undertake further dance tuition.

Briony said they have been assured the event, which is scheduled to run from today (Friday March 5) to Sunday (March 7), will still proceed under alert level two restrictions.

PHOTOS: Supplied