Hundreds of dancers tested their limbs to their limits in the Gunnedah Eisteddfod on the weekend.
Dancers flocked to The Civic from Tamworth, Armidale, Inverell, Singleton and Gunnedah’s three dance schools – Totally Dance Studios, Rhana’s Academy of Dance and T2K.
Convenor and local dancer Amelia Gallagher said there were big crowds, with plenty of parents turning out to support their kids.
“I definitely think the numbers were up from last year,” she said.
“It was to a pretty high standard and there were some amazing costumes there.”
Daniel and Toby are very promising in the world of theatre.
- Adjudicator Kay Flynn
Kay Flynn travelled from the Gold Coast to adjudicate and Ms Gallagher said she gave out special awards to a number of dancers who impressed her.
“Her favourite performance out of the whole weekend was a duo that Daniel Loftus and Toby Bartlett did to [The Other Side] from the Greatest Showman,” Ms Gallagher said.
“She said it was very entertaining and well put together.”
Ms Flynn said the pair were “very promising in the world of theatre” and Billy Russell from Tamworth City Dance Academy was also a “very promising” talent.
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The adjudicator said the competitors were a “happy group” and “it was wonderful to see a compeition where there were no tears”.
“I was very impressed by the jazz and some of the contemporary,” she said.
“The costuming was beautiful. There was stunning makeup… I felt the groups from Tamworth were excellent.
“I felt the whole community in Gunnedah was so beautiful.
“The whole town has a really nice feel about it.”
To think that a young woman of that age has decided to recommence the dance section of the competition is extremely admirable.
- Adjudicator Kay Flynn
Ms Flynn was particularly impressed by Ms Gallagher’s initiative.
“From my point of view as someone who has been adjudicating for 15 years, I’m amazed to think that this young woman is so committed to this community,” Ms Flynn said.
“To think that a young woman of that age has decided to recommence the dance section of the competition is extremely admirable.
“It was great to see that she’s done that.”
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This is the second year Ms Gallagher has convened the dance eisteddfod, which was relaunched by Ms Gallagher and Talisa Miller in 2017 through the Gunnedah Eisteddfod Society. Amelia was solo this year because Talisa moved to Melbourne to start a full-time contemporary dance course at Transit Dance.
“It did run a little bit smoother this year,” Amelia said.
“I’m personally very happy with the overall outcome of the eisteddfod.
“The local dance schools are just very happy there's a [dance eisteddfod] back up and running again.”
