Ten talented performers from Fabulous Feet Dance Academy took part in last night’s Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. Front: Maddison Lynch. Middle: Jeremy Wheeler, Tenielle Simonis, Faith Tyler, Annaliece Simonis, Sally Meredith, Emily Swinkels, Meagham Jarred with James Jarred. Sophie Ward is held by the others.
By Rebecca Fraser
TEN performers from a Berwick dance school cemented their role in a key piece of Melbourne’s history last night when they performed in the 2006 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Students from the Fabulous Feet Dance Academy in Berwick took to the grounds of the MCG and performed in a variety of dance routines as a crowd of thousands and a global television audience watched.
No one watching was prouder than dance teacher Michelle Camp, who said she was thrilled with her students’ achievements.
Ms Camp said eight girls and two boys from her dance school had been selected to take part in both the opening and closing ceremony after a long and competitive audition process.
She said the 10 chosen students were aged between eight and 17 years of age, with the exception of one female student from Maryknoll who was 32 years old.
“I am absolutely beside myself that they were chosen and took part.
“The kids have worked so hard for this, travelling such a long way to Laverton for rehearsals.
“They are all very excited and pumped up and their parents are just as excited. They have been fully committed with all the carpooling and driving.
“They work so hard for their kids.
“Many of my students have been dancing since they were five years old so it is good to see these results.”
Ms Camp said those chosen danced in the school’s advanced troupe and studied tap, jazz and classical.
She said students had kept the details of the performances and the opening ceremony a secret. All she knew was that they were taking part in a variety of dance routines.
