Kelly Yates and partner David Rozycki are hoping to impress judges at this Sunday’s Australian Dancesport Championships.
By Elise Adams
BERWICK dancer Kelly Yates has been fascinated with dance ever since laying eyes on the stunning dresses worn in Strictly Ballroom.
When she was a little girl, Kelly watched the classic Australian dance film and was instantly hooked on the profession.
“I told my mum that I wanted to wear one of those dresses,” she said.
Her mother then explained to Kelly that she had to be a dancer to wear that kind of extravagant attire.
So Kelly became one.
At 21, Kelly is now a high-level ballroom dancer and teaches the craft at Bagheeras the Dance Place Studio in Hallam.
Her passion for dancing has taken her in many different directions, one being this Sunday’s 2007 Australian Dancesport Championship, which will be aired by Channel Seven at Christmas.
Kelly and Polish-born partner David Rozycki will compete against a strong pool of national and international contestants in an attempt to win.
“It’ll be really tough,” she said. “It’s the biggest one of the year.
“Last year we came 10th, this time we’re aiming for the number one spot.”
Kelly and David’s partnership has been an interesting one.
After emigrating from Poland, David walked into the studio speaking little English. At this time Kelly did not have a partner.
“There was a bit of a communication barrier to begin with,” she said.
But the pair made the most of “being in the right place at the right time” and joined forces to produce a beautiful professional partnership of two years.
Kelly also has links with the popular television show Dancing With the Stars, which recently aired its season finale. She auditioned several times for the professional dance instructor position on the show but is yet to be successful.
But the determined young adult says she intends to persevere.
“The ratings are still high, so hopefully next year I’ll get it,” she said.
Future prospects for Kelly include the possibility of heading overseas to compete.
“We want to start travelling … our ultimate goal is to represent Australia,” she said.
Kelly has also completed a Professional Writing and Editing course through Berwick’s Chisholm Institution and would one day like to pursue a career in journalism.
