Charlotte in Year 10 at Matthew Flinders Anglican College has excelled on stage to be named National Dance Champion in the Years 10 to 12 solo category in the TFT Dance Star National Championships in Adelaide in August.
Charlotte represented Flinders after qualifying through the Regional and State finals, which were held on the Sunshine Coast, with some events hosted at the Flinders Performance Centre.
Principal Stuart Meade congratulated Charlotte for her national achievement, the result of her dedicated training, perseverance and creativity.
Charlotte started dancing at the age of two and trains at the Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance (SCCoD). She also joined the Flinders Dance co-curricular club when it launched in 2020 as part of the Flinders Creative Arts Program.
Charlotte said, “It was so good to represent Flinders at the National Championships in Adelaide, doing something I enjoy so much.
“Flinders Dance has given me more opportunities to train, dance and perform,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to Nationals later in the year with my dance studio and then the school competitions next year.”
Flinders Dance Co-Curricular Offering in the Secondary School
Flinders Dance supports 25 students, and is for girls and boys of all ability levels across the Secondary School from Years 7 to 12 who want to learn and improve their dance skills.
The Flinders Dance team qualified for the 2023 Nationals across 10 different routines when they competed in the Regional and State finals, but were unable to attend the event interstate.
Dancers train twice per week under the expert mentorship of Flinders Primary Teacher and dancer, Miss Amy Cahill and Flinders Dance Co-ordinator and Secondary Teacher, Ms Chanel Grahame.
The group rehearses a number of different dance styles, from lyrical to musical theatre items, and will perform a showcase in the Flinders Performance Centre on Tuesday, 17 October.
Ms Grahame said, “The Flinders Dance Showcase is an opportunity for our students to share their dances and performance skills that they’ve been working hard on over the past season.
“We look forward to our College families and community supporting our dancers for their first showcase.
“We are also opening our Flinders Dance team up to new members, so newcomers are welcome to join!”
Dancers have also performed in College productions, including Anastasia: The Musical and Medieval Mischief in 2023.
