Team Australia Pom Dance.
Camera IconTeam Australia Pom Dance. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Morley-based SM Cheer and Dance representing Australia Pom Dance at International Cheer Union World Championships

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

MORLEY-based SM Cheer and Dance club will be donning green and gold colours as part of Team Australia Pom Dance at the International Cheer Union World Championships in Florida.

There will be 17 athletes aged between 15 and 24 from across the Perth metropolitan area including Lockridge, Bedford, Kalamunda, Yokine, Joondalup, Scarborough, Redcliffe and Forrestfield.

Most of the athletes study and work full-time while training four times a week with the club as well as individual fitness sessions.

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They will be performing their freestyle pom dance, which incorporates traditional dance skills, turns, kicks and jumps, at the championships held in Florida from April 25 to 27.

Coach Laura Harris (32), of South Perth, said this was the first time any WA club would represent Australia for both cheer and dance disciplines.

“I’m excited to see them shine on stage, and feel incredibly proud of what they have achieved over the four years we’ve been working together,” she said.

“It’s a source of great pride for the girls, their families and the club that we can represent WA and Australia in front of a worldwide audience.

“We’re humbled to have been offered the opportunity of a lifetime and excited to experience this huge event, which I’m sure will inspire the girls to achieve even further in the future.”

Harris said the team competed in four national competitions during two years before getting the international opportunity.

“Since January 12, when we received the news we had been selected at Team Australia, team have been training incredibly hard,” she said.

“This will be the furthest many of them have travelled and they can’t wait to explore Disney World after our competition is finished.”

She said she wanted the girls to enjoy the experience and hoped to place in the top 10 and compete in finals.

The club has set up a GoFundMe page to raise $90,000 towards the trip.

Visit https://www.gofundme.com/team-australia-2018-smdance.

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