Sport
2 November, 2024
State’s top dancing queens
FIFTEEN dancers from the St Monica’s College Ignite dance troupe have established themselves as the team to beat in Queensland after becoming state champions at the Dance X State Championships in early October.
After classifying at regionals in August, the St Monica’s Ignite dance troupe came prepared to dominate at the Dance X State Championships on October 12 in Brisbane where they competed against 50 teams across the state and became state champions after several stellar performances.
The troupe placed first in the senior contemporary teams section – which earned them the title – and three duos performed exceptionally at the senior duo section with pairs Tilly McCulloch and Tiffany Kay taking second place, India Schmalz and Emma Porta third and Emily Musson and Tina North fourth.
The troupe’s coach and dance teacher at St Monica’s Lenee Barrell said it had been an exceptional competition for the girls.
“We had a group of 15 students from year 8 to year 12 and they competed in the contemporary teams section and duos, and all of our girls qualified for this championship,” she said.
“We have a really thriving dance troupe program here at St Monica’s. We have three dance troupes and this particular competitive troupe has been competing and rehearsing from the beginning of the year.
“These girls have been competing in eisteddfods always placing – winning or coming second – and culminating in the victory at this state championship, plus performances and school and that’s all on top of their normal schoolwork load.
“We train once a week, they also come together in lunch breaks and you always see them in the studio working hard, so they’re all very happy, on a high.
“It was well deserved but unexpected. When you go to events like these that you’ve never done before and they’re all Brisbane schools and schools from across the state and you win – it feels unreal to us.”
St Monica’s dancer and second place winner in the duo section Tilly McCulloch, 15, said she was incredibly proud of the troupe’s outcome in the championship.
“I’m so happy about how we did, it’s very exciting for the group and it was a really good experience,” she said.
“For my duo, me and Tiffany got second, it was a lyrical piece and we choreographed it ourselves.
“It was really exciting and we’re very proud that we were able to go and represent our school and Cairns and do so well.”
St Monica’s Dance Troupe Ignite performers:
Alexis Biancotti (year 10)
Kahlan Duggan (year 11)
Taryn Gibbins (year 11)
Rhona Jack (year 11)
Tiffany Kay (year 10)
Charlotte Knight (year 10)
Isabella Macfarlane (year 10)
Tilly McCulloch (year 10)
Emily Musson (year 9)
Tina North (year 9)
Amy Porta (year 8)
Emma Porta (year 8)
Ruby Richardson (year 10)
Eliza Ryan (year 8)
India Schmalz (year 10).
