Rotorua's Leah excels at dancing her way to the top

By ALANAH MAY ERIKSEN
Not many people can make a living dancing in New Zealand but Leah Monne thinks she has what it takes.

The 18-year-old former Rotorua Girls' High School student is a second-year student at Auckland's Excel School of Performing Arts.

The group of 23 actors, singers, dancers and musicians are performing free concerts in Rotorua this week and are billeting with local families.

Only a handful of students from the first year at Excel are picked to carry on for the second year and tour around New Zealand for most of the year performing.

Leah, who was awarded Top Dancer of the Year last year, was one of the lucky ones picked from about 100 students.

She majors in dance and minors in drama at the school and will graduate with an Advanced Certificate in Performing.

``Excel is like a big family, a really warm environment.

``We were close during the first year but now that there isn't so many of us we are even closer,'' she said.

The group have choreographed all their own moves for the tour which Leah says is half the fun of performing.

``We get each other really hyped up and the moves just come out.

``We have to learn about 15 dances in a short amount of time before we go on tour so it gets a bit stressed at times but its just about performing.''

Leah was born in New Caledonia and came to Rotorua when she was about 13. She attended Pam Shanks' American Jazz Dance Centre (AMJAZZ) and has performed in many theatre productions including On Broadway with well-known Australian director Robert Young.

Leah comes from a very musical family _ her mum sings and plays the piano and her two brothers also play instruments.

``I've always wanted to perform. I like to show people what I can do.

``I want to get to the top,'' she said.

Leah hopes to carry on in musical theatre next year whether it be in New Zealand or overseas.

``I want to do anything that involves dancing, acting or singing,'' she said.

Excel have performed at local high schools this week and are holding public concerts tonight at the Living Well Church at 7 o'clock and on Sunday at the Fenton Park Bible Church at 10am and again at the Living Well Church at 7pm.