Isla wows judges with perfect kicks

Isla MacFarlane, 8, worked hard and earned first place in a national dancing competition.Photo/George Novak

Isla MacFarlane's precise Highland dancing kicks earned her first place in a national competition.

Isla, 8, competed in the New Zealand Highland and National Dancing Competition in Blenheim during the school holidays.

She won first place in the Highland fling, Irish jig and sailor's hornpipe dances, and the points she earned won her first place overall in the under-10 category. The Te Akau ki Papamoa pupil said she enjoyed Highland dancing because it was challenging.

"I've been doing it for about two years. I like dancing because its hard, challenging and I love it. I've made good friends there," she said.

Isla dances with the Christine Paul School of Dance on Wednesdays and said she practised about five days a week.

She has been all over the country to dance and this was the third year she had competed in the national competition.

Isla would like to convince other youngsters to learn Highland dancing. Not many people did it and there were lots of opportunities to make friends.

Isla's nana, Dianne Sligo, said Highland dancing was in the family. Mrs Sligo danced for many years, as did her daughter, Isla's aunt.

"Isla's learned six dances now and is learning her seventh."

When asked what made Isla so good at Highland dancing, Mrs Sligo said much of it was down to practice.

"It's that old story, practice makes perfect. She's got a good brain so she can remember things and she listens to her dance teacher. She tries really hard and seems to be able to lift herself at the big performances, like you have to do."