From Russia, with dance

By Kelly Yates
HALLAM dancers Andrew Nolo and Shannen Clarke are back on home soil after representing Australia at the 2009 World Ten Dance Championships in Russia.
The 17-year-old dancers made it through to the top 30 dancers in the world at the competition in the youth section, which is for dancers under the age of 19.
The World Ten Dance Championships is judged over 10 ballroom and Latin American dances – the waltz, tango, foxtrot, Viennese waltz, quickstep, cha-cha, samba, rumba, paso doble and jive.
Andrew told the News he was pleased they made it to the top 30, dancing against couples from all over the world.
Andrew said competing on the international circuit was an awesome experience.
“It was great fun being on the world stage,” he said.
“The standard of dancing overseas is very high. It was amazing to walk into the competition and see that everyone on the dance floor was good.”
The pair, who have been dancing together for a year and eight months, spent just under a week in Russia and had some time in the United Kingdom learning from some of the best ballroom and Latin dance teachers in the world.
This was Andrew’s first time overseas.
“We’ve come home with a different mind set and attitude about our dancing,” he said.
“We have a lot to work on.”
Andrew, who started dancing at Bagheera’s The Dance Place in Hallam at the age of four, is hoping to continue dancing into his adult years.
Andrew and Shannen are hoping to compete again overseas.
“We probably won’t travel next year as we’ll both be completing year 12,” Andrew said.
“I’m hoping to study sport coaching or music at university.”
The pair will now train for this year’s Australian Dancesport Championships held in December under the guidance of coaches Malcolm Batty, Shane Hocking, Kym Smith, Jim McPherson, Larry and Kerry Clarke, Adam Blakey and Jared Parnell.