By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
IT’S his fourth year on the state stage and 17-year-old Brandon Harrison is showing no signs of slowing down.
The year 12 student from Narre Warren South P-12 College has just started rehearsals for this year’s Victorian State School Spectacular – his fourth in a row – to be held in September at Hisense Arena.
Brandon, who has been dancing at his local Cathy-Lea Dance Music Drama Works for seven years, has once again been cast as a principal dancer in the upcoming spectacular.
“I started out sitting at home and Mum said do you want to audition for this? I didn’t know what it was,” Brandon said.
“I went to the audition and there were about three rounds.
“I was cast as a principal dancer and I have been now for four years.”
While Brandon said auditions for this year’s event appeared even more intense, with more choreographers involved, he said he been drawn back by the same buzz that had got him addicted to the stage in the first place.
“It’s just everything about it, really, every year there’s new people and by the end of the time everyone’s a big family and so close,” he said.
“We all look forward to coming to rehearsals to see each other and hang out.
“It’s just that feeling, when you’re standing backstage and hearing the crowd clap and roar for the last performance after you’re completely exhausted.”
Through dancing Brandon said he can express himself in ways that he otherwise would find difficult.
“I can express myself better through dancing then I can through words,” Brandon said.
”Sometimes if I have a stereo and a studio available and I’m feeling angry about something, or really excited, I can put on a certain song and go for it.”
The 2015 Victorian State Schools Spectacular will be performed twice on Saturday 12 September at Hisense Arena.
It involves students from more than 30 schools and is performed annually to an audience of more than 10,000 people.
For more information, visit www.education.vic.gov.au/about/events/pages/spectacular.aspx?Redirect=1.
