The 12th International Highland Dancing Festival was held on July 27-30 at Niagara Park Stadium. The annual event is organised by Central Coast Highland Dancing Inc. and attracts competitors from across the country to celebrate all things highland dance and to compete.
The four day event opened with the Highland Choreography Competition which was broken down into six divisions: 13 Years and Under Duos, Open Duos, Small Groups Juniors, Small Groups Open, Large Group Juniors and Large Group Open. WA’s, Morven Johnston and Lily Godden, took out the 13 Years and Under Duos title and fellow WA dancers, Victoria Goode and Rachel Bonus, took out the Open Duos. Small Groups Juniors was won by the group from Lyons, VIC. Small Groups Open went to WA’s SHDA troupe. Both Large Group divisions were taken out by the teams from Roe, TAS.
The second day of dancing saw the Pre-Premier and Premier Aggregates, Jig/ Hornpipe Aggregates, PreChampionship, Champions Challenge, the John McFarland Memorial Hornpipe, Mister Josh’s Village Maid, and the competition’s newest event, the Highland Fling Relay. Special guest, Lachlan Gillespie, sang the National Anthem and danced with our Under 4’s. Day three continued with various individual events and the competition concluded on day four with a series of workshops from international instructors, Sandra Bald Jones, Eleanor Belton, Sheryl Joyner, Rhona Lawrence, and, Mary and Bill Troock. Overall Age Champions were announced following the conclusion of day four and included: 7-9 Years, Abigail Godden; 10 Years, Natasha Golden; 11 Years, Lily Godden; 12 Years, Ava Curtis; 13 Years, Morven Johnstone; 14 Years, Abigail Cross; 15 Years, Evie Dawkins; 16-17 Years, Ashlee Beams; 18-20 Years, Kayla McQuoid; and 21 Years and Over, Rachel Bonus.
Source: Website, Jul 31 Douglas McFarland, Central Coast Highland Dancing Inc.