By Tanya Steele
The kicks were high and the beats were in time for local Irish dancers at a successful interstate competition in Tasmania recently.
A group of dancers from Victorian Irish Dance Academy (VIDA) went to compete in Hobart recently on 2 and 3 of December – coming away with a few choice trophies.
Tiny beginners and seasoned adults from Healesville to Tecoma performed their best soft and hard shoe numbers for adjudicator Mr John Joyce (ADCRG, NSW) who said it was a great weekend.
“These awards are my opinion on the day and you should all be very proud of yourselves,” he said.
VIDA has students of all ages from across the Yarra Ranges and Principal Teacher Kate Bilton is a well known Healesville resident – the school itself is based in Tecoma and Mt Evelyn.
The annual competition is a competition with heart and smiles and the Christmas spirit was in abundance at the weekend festival featuring several Irish Dancing schools from all over Tasmania and Victoria.
VIDA loves competing in Hobart and the annual feis is hosted by Irish dancing school Scoli Rince Ni Kelly and run by principal teacher Bronwyn Kelly.
Adults and teenagers competed on Saturday 2 December and took home a number of awards – beginner dancer Isobel Kennedy from Menzies Creek took out the Adult 1 Premiership and has only been dancing with the company for two years.
Becky Edwards won 2nd place for her hard shoe and third place for the Adult 1 Premiership.
Mr Joyce said he was very supportive of adults starting or continuing their Irish dance journey.
“You should be very proud of what you are doing,” he said.
The adjudicator was all smiles and was a very engaged and supportive judge throughout the competition.
The step about this year featured a Christmas theme and dancers were encouraged to dress up and the VIDA students took the assignment very seriously with an array of wonderful costumes from a winter fairy to the Grinch.
Treble reel step (hard shoe) – 1st, 2nd and 3rd place – Tanya Steele – Tecoma, Michelle Spencer – Upwey and Wendy Lynne Perrow from Emerald.
Soft Shoe Stepabout – 1st – Wendy Lynne Perrow and 2nd – Tanya Steele
Adult Traditional Set – 2nd Michelle Spencer
Adult Open Slip Jig – 1st place ZIv Dolan
Amber Hoffman (17) won 5th place for her open premiership and also got to take Little Leprechaun Quinn (5) for her first-ever competition reel on stage.
The section is dubbed “Dance to the music” and allows young performers a chance to perform on stage with their teacher and have a ball at the same time.
VIDA also took out the adult four four-hand reel, coming 1st place with new group Clark Ryan Tang, Isobel Kennedy, Becky Edwards and Tanya Steele claiming the Aileen Pynter Perpetual Trophy for the first time.
The Open creative event in the afternoon was especially fun and VIDA competed with tunes from the High King’s “Chasing Rainbows” along with a more traditional melody ‘The Sailor and the Mermaid’. Clark Ryan Tang also raised the roof with a number from the Barbie Soundtrack dressed as Ken.
The kids were not to be outdone on Sunday 3 December — holding their own against a large number of students.
Young dancer Erinne (11) won first place in her primary premiership and third in her open – a great achievement for a dancer her age.
Elsie (10) won her beginner premiership and came 2nd in her primary premiership, Felicia (9) came in 3rd and Charlotte (7) and Lexie (7) came in 3rd and 4th for their beginner premiership.
The kid’s Christmas costume section was delightful and there were jingle bells, Christmas trees, nutcrackers and more on stage.
VIDA’s Lexie (7) and Errine (11) also came first for their two hand dressed as some very cute reindeer.
Award presentations involved a few medals and trophies, but most importantly – giant candy canes for the winners.
VIDA Principal Teacher Kate Bilton said she was very proud of her dancers and loves going to Tasmania for the comp.
“It’s such a supportive, inclusive and welcoming environment – it’s a dance event that embraces all ages and abilities,” she said.
VIDA will continue to dance at various events throughout the Yarra Ranges and look forward to performing their annual Christmas concert on Saturday 16 December.
