MORE than 400 of the best aspiring dancers from across Perth will converge on John Curtin College of the Arts in the coming days, chasing scholarships, awards and a springboard to the big time.
The five-day Festival of Dance, run by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), includes sections for ballet, contemporary, demi-character and national dance genres.
Ensembles are also able to compete in ballet, neo-classical, contemporary, lyrical and jazz dance genres.
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READ NOWThe Festival will be held from Thursday
to Sunday, with the event culminating in a gala on Monday where its best performers will show their talents again.
RAD WA regional manager Shelley Yacopetti said the Festival of Dance had grown to become a top competition in the state.
“Aspiring dancers gain exposure to world class dancers and teachers through the adjudicating and teaching elements of the festival,” she said.
“This year we have several amazing adjudicators, including current principal artist of the Australian Ballet Lana Jones, as well as artistic staff from WA Ballet.”
Pevnev Ballet Academy director Sergey Pevnev said the event was a big deal.
“We always like these types of events because you have the chance once a year to dance in front of judges, parents and friends,” he said.
Ms Yacopetti said dancers used the festival as a springboard to other national and international events.
Last year’s Linley Wilson Scholarship winner Evelyn Roberts used her prize money to enter the 2016 Genee International Ballet Competition in Sydney, where she was a finalist.
The West Australian School of Dance will feature at the festival under the direction of Nathan Coppen.
The school is aiming to win its seventh David McAllister Cup in eight years.
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