Graduating on a high note - November 2015
SWAN SONG: Shirley McDouall School of Dance graduating students. Front row, from left, Megan Hoskin and Aleisha Rainey (WHS). Back row, from left, Zsofia Hermann, Sarah Miller (WHS), Brianna Hobson (WHS), and Megan de Klerk. These students will be performing at Prince Edward Auditorium today.
Shirley McDouall School of Dance will hold a special graduation concert today.
School principal Melissa Tate said it was the first time the school had held a graduating concert. It was prompted by six of its senior students leaving Wanganui - and the school - at the end of this year.
"We do a big production every 18 months. Our next one isn't until April next year, which means that these students will miss out. We wanted them to leave on a high note," Miss Tate said.
The senior school - students from Grade 4 and above - will take part in the concert, with all six students performing solos.
"It's a short concert, and there will be snippets of different ballets, as well as contemporary and modern dance."
Miss Tate said the school wanted to acknowledge the students.
"They've been dancing with us almost on a daily basis, so it's a very long time they've dedicated to dance."
Four of the six students have been at the Shirley McDouall School of Dance since a very young age. Sarah Miller, 17, started when she was 7; while Zsofia Hermann, 17, Brianna Hobson, 18, and Aleisha Rainey, 18, began dance when they were 3 years old. The other two graduating dancers, Megan Hoskin and Megan de Klerk, joined the school when they were older.
They all study ballet, and a variety of other dance styles such as contemporary and modern.
All six plan to continue dancing once they leave Wanganui.
Brianna, Zsofia, and Aleisha are all moving to Dunedin to study health studies at Otago University. Aleisha wants to be a physiotherapist, Zsofia plans to go on to study medicine or dentistry, and Brianna hasn't decided yet.
Sarah is moving to Wellington to study languages at Victoria University.
Miss Tate said the students had also been successful academically.
Zsofia was head of academics at Wanganui Collegiate this year and has just been named school dux and Aleisha is Wanganui High school's sports dux.
The students' love of dance is obvious.
Sarah fell in love with ballet after going to a show as a child.
"It was something that I'd always wanted to do. It kind of takes over your life after a while."
Brianna said dance required a lot of commitment, but it was all worth it.
"Dance is a lot of hard work, and you wake up the next morning and your muscles are sore, but you still go the next day because you love it.
Aleisha said she felt a lot of pressure to do well in sport and academics, but dance was "an outlet".
"I have a good group of friends here, and I just enjoy dancing."
Zsofia said she loves the opportunity to be graceful while also getting a good workout.
All the students paid tribute to Miss Tate.
"She's put a lot of work into us, and she is so dedicated to all her students."
-Shirley McDouall School of Dance graduation concert, today, 2pm, Prince Edward Auditorium. Tickets at door [cash only], adults $10, children $8.
(Wanganui Chronicle 7/11/15)