Dannevirke: Morgan dances her way to the top

Dannevirke dancer Morgan Kernaghan, 18, last week passed her solo performance diploma exam in hip-hop and is believed to be just one of two in Dannevirke to have achieved that. Photo / Christine McKay

Dannevirke teenager Morgan Kernaghan has been dancing since she was 6 and last week she achieved the pinnacle, passing her solo performance diploma exam, putting her in a class of her own.

Morgan, a Year 13 pupil at Dannevirke High School, is believed to be just one of two in Dannevirke to have danced their way to such a high standard.

But it didn't come easy.

"You have to qualify to sit this exam and have successfully passed three major exams and achieve 90 per cent in the last to be eligible to sit this diploma. Then Morgan had to get a 90 per cent pass to obtain her solo performance diploma," dance teacher Melissa Martin explained.

"This is a huge thing because you have to be unbelievably good to get that far, with that level of grade required, the pressure was on last Tuesday when Morgan began the first of her three appearances, in two different genres, in front of the examiner. We're very proud of her."

Morgan told the Dannevirke News she was "stoked."

"I'm over the moon and surprised. It's been a lot of hard work."

Dancing for 12 years, including hip-hop for the last six, Morgan's life is full on.

"I work two nights at the Country Chef and two nights teaching at Melissa's dance school, as well as doing my own dancing," she said. "At the moment work takes priority, then my school work and everything else just happens. But I love hip-hop, it's so much fun and worth all the effort."

At the moment Morgan is nursing an injured shoulder, but this didn't detract from her exam performances. The final for the diploma, a stage examination, must be entertaining, while a professional performance is still expected. Morgan's exam judged her music, choreography, costuming, grooming, interpretation and stagecraft. "It required an equal balance of technique and presentation," Miss Martin said. But although Morgan has had success at the highest level of dance, she's intending to go to university next year to study psychology. "I became interested in psychology in Year 10 when our teacher Mr Hanton introduced us to it. Then last year we did a psychology study on drinking and why people do things. It's something which interests me. But I will be continuing to help out here at the dance studio next year to help pay my way at university."

Dannevirke High School principal Dr Dawid de Villiers said Morgan's achievements are excellent results for her hard work and determination.