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    Greta Pinniger and Sabaya Woods, Ararat, competing in the 2019 Ararat Eisteddfod.

Dancers prepare for stage

A series of theatrical and classical dance performances at Ararat Performing Arts Centre next week will mark a ‘long overdue’ return to the stage.

Ararat Eisteddfod committee has been busy preparing a full itinerary for its newly established mini competition designed to ‘restore positivity’ for the performing arts community.

More than 220 young performers from across Victoria have entered into the week-long event, from Tuesday to Saturday, which showcases skills such as jazz, tap, contemporary and classical ballet.

Committee secretary Chris Harris said the mini competition aimed to fill a void created by the cancellation of the 2020 Ararat Eisteddfod.



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“This is extremely important for the kids, who didn’t have anything last year and didn’t get to perform on stage,” she said.

“This will also hopefully restore some positivity for the dance teachers and their schools who had a tough year last year with being shut down for up to nine months in some places.”

Mrs Harris said the committee was forced to reconfigure how it ran its events to comply with COVID-safe planning regulations. She said the latest changes to regulations meant the performing arts centre could fill 75 percent of its audience capacity.

“That will please a lot of grandparents who want to see their grandchildren perform,” she said.

“We can have up to 180 audience members, but there are still density rules in place and we will have COVID marshals to ensure we meet the current one person per two square metres rule.

“This event will also provide a bit of a template for how we run our main event in September.”

Victorian dance teachers Monique Fox and Claire Haywood, who both have extensive experience teaching a variety of dance styles, will be adjudicators for the mini competition.

Mrs Harris encouraged people to follow Ararat Eisteddfod on Facebook for announcements about the event, competition rules and ticket sales.

People can also email ararateisteddfod@live.com.au or message the Facebook page for more information.

 

The entire April 7, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!