Abby-Jane Taylor has the skill and maturity to win, her teacher says. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today
Abby-Jane Taylor has the skill and maturity to win, her teacher says. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today
KEY POINTS:
She's conquered Australasia and now a young New Zealand Highland dancer is set to fling herself on the world.
Abby-Jane Taylor, 9, from Waipawa in Hawkes Bay, is en route to the Cowal World Highland Dancing Championships in Scotland.
She qualified by winning the premier 9-years-and-under class atthe Grand Australasian Championships in Sydney this month - believed to be only the third New Zealand dancer to do so.
Sisters Georgia and Holly Keir also entered, winning the intermediate grade and most promising junior dancer titles respectively.
Despite having just four years' experience, Abby-Jane said she felt prepared to compete in the home of Highland dancing.
Recitals, exams and competitions were, after all, the "funnest part" of her hobby.
When asked what she knew of Scotland, Abby-Jane said only that it was cold, and people talked with a different accent.
But she will have plenty of time to familiarise herself with the culture during the next five weeks, attending at least six dance meets before the world championships.
Dance teacher Julie Appleton- Seymour will accompany her.
She said Abby-Jane had the maturity, dedication and skill to bring home the hallowed Cowal gold medal.
"She's able to take a correction and fix it up, which not many young dancers can do. And she has great feet".
