Dancing towards her dreams

Olivia Platt, of Mangawhai, is fast dancing her way to a European ballet dream after coming up trumps at the Northland Ballet and Dance Competition.

Platt competed in the 13 and under category at the Forum North venue in Whangarei from August 10 to 12.

She picked up seven placings and five special awards, including the Ackers Aggregate Trophy for highest total points in ballet and the Mayo Cup for most promising ballet dancer.

“It was my most successful competition results ever in dance and far exceeded my expectations ahead of the event,” Platt says.

“I don’t usually get nervous at competitions, even with lots of people watching, but the impromptu dance where you make it up as you go was certainly nerve-racking.”

Northland wasn’t her only success this year. She came first in her age group in ballet and jazz at the Papakura Performing Arts Annual Dance Festival in June.

This gives her entry into the Follow Your Dreams National Finals dance competition in Melbourne next year.

“I’m still looking at funding options for the trip, but I would love to compete.”

Platt’s dream is to be part of a ballet company in Europe one day, with Russia, England and France high on her list of desired locations.

“I really enjoy performing and also would like to be involved with doing choreography.”

She currently does choreography for the young dance students she teaches at Dance Energy in Mangawhai.

Platt started dancing herself at age three, taking to it with huge enthusiasm. She first competed at five.

She now trains over 10 hours each week at Dance Energy and Apollo Dance Studios in Auckland, focussing on ballet, jazz and contemporary.

“Ballet training can be quite intense, but it’s not something that bothers me.

“I’m going to keep up my jazz and contemporary dance as well as it’s good for my technique and gives me other options if the ballet doesn’t work out.”