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Zahra jetés to the top

Zahra Cawley brought home dance honours. Photo credit: Kim Cawley

Zahra Cawley became the Aggregate Solo Winner in a dance competition in Adelaide, after winning prizes in seven of the nine categories she entered.

In Get the Beat’s 2022 Regional Tour, Zahra won first prize in the Under 10s categories of ‘Song and Dance’ and ‘Traditional Contemporary.’ She also placed in ‘Lyrical,’ ‘Commercial

Contemporary,’ ‘Musical Theatre’ and ‘Jazz’ and will now progress to the national competition.

Zahra and her mother, Kim Cawley, are full of praise for Zahra’s local dance teacher, Joy Baldwin, affectionately called Mrs B.

“Mrs B. is amazing,” said Zahra.

The competition was very tough, according to Kim.

“But Zahra was such a good sport, encouraging the other dancers and wishing them luck on stage,” she said.

Zahra relies on the hard work she has put in, to calm her nerves on performance day.

“Usually when I am backstage, watching the other competitors dance, I think ‘Oh, they’re very good,’” she said.

“For the first 10 seconds of my performance, I’m nervous.

“Then hallway through, I think ‘I’ve got this’ and then I put my last bit of energy in.”

It’s all about the preparation and Kym asserts that Zahra never stops and that every day on the calendar has something to do with dance.

“Now and again, when I’m watching TV, I do a few stretches,” said Zahra.

“Basically, bedtime is my best relaxing time.”

Zahra is having an unaccustomed rest, then will perform in dance competitions every six weeks, including the South Australian championships.

She is still very excited about obtaining her first pair of demi pointe ballet shoes on the weekend, which she will wear in a new ballet solo Mrs B. is teaching her for the Mildura Eisteddfod in June.

Zahra is looking forward to her next performance, which is at the Seniors’ Variety Concert on April 28.

“I’m going to do my jazz routine because I think that will be over the top and I think the seniors can get up and dance and have a ball,” said Zahra.

“The dance is called ‘Conga’.

“Mrs B. really likes that – it makes her want to get up and dance.”

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