Dancing queen from Nga Tawa School to compete with Manawatu's best at 19th annual dance festival

Phoebe Howard after receiving her PACANZ nomination to compete in Palmerston North. Photo/ Supplied

Nga Tawa Diocesan School's Phoebe Howard has pirouetted her way into nominations for the performing arts competition association of New Zealand (PACANZ).

Howard, 16, dances at Dance Unlimited in Fielding and was excited to hear the news after missing out last year.

"Last year it was the jazz nominations, I did try, but I didn't get nominated," she said.

"This year it was the ballet ones and I just can't wait to compete, but I have to."

The Palmerston North Dance Association's 19th annual dance festival starts on September 28 and runs through until October 3.

Howard will compete in ballet which is one of her favourites.

"I used to love dancing at kindy, I always used to dance on the stages and make up routines, so Mum took me to ballet and I've loved it ever since," she said.

"It can be very competitive, especially between me and my friends - you always want to be the best at what you do."

Throughout the competition, competitors take classes so that judges can see them in that environment and then do two variations that they are judged on for the overall title.

Howard started dancing when she was just 3 at the McQueen School of Dance in her home town, Taihape.

She said that the support from her friends and teachers at Nga Tawa School had been great and that when she leaves she hopes to be a professional dancer.

"I'd have to audition to get into a company, but hopefully I'd be able to get over to Australia or somewhere like that," Howard said.

"I've always danced, it's what I do and it's an important part of my life."