Humble arts event grows to spectacle

The Kwinana Dance Festival — Koorliny Arts Centre’s biggest annual event — is being hailed a success by organisers.

This year 29 schools took part in more than 240 items, including classical ballet, hip-hop, modern jazz, musical theatre, and acrobatics.

Co-ordinator Ruth Alexander said competitors were aged from 2 to 70 plus.

“In all, there were 1710 performances, involving more than 1000 dancers in solos, duo, trio, quartets and troupes,” she said.

Established 27 years ago, the festival has grown from a one-day event to an 11-day festival.

This year’s adjudicator was Fiona Scott, an experienced dancer, teacher and choreographer who owns and runs All that Jazz Studio in Joondalup.

Mrs Scott said the competition taught dancers about teamwork and commitment in a friendly atmosphere.

“I was involved four years ago and the festival has come a long way since then,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the dancers progress.”

At the awards night last week 56 perpetual trophies and several prizes and scholarships were presented.

This year’s junior outstanding dancer was Sascha Quinn, 11, from Dynamite Dance in Rockingham. The winner of the outstanding dancer was Mikayla Wilson, 14, of Sicuso Dance Studio in Bibra Lake.

The highly coveted school highest performance aggregate went to The All About Dance Company, Port Kennedy.