Sarah Latta, a University of Otago theatre studies student, will attend the World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood in June as part of the New Zealand contingent, the Black Stars.
The 19-year-old former Queen’s High School pupil said she would compete in the musical theatre, contemporary singing and contemporary/dramatic acting categories during the fortnight-long competition.
While some other members of the Kiwi team - of about 20-30 performers - would be performing in groups, Miss Latta would be competing solo.
She said she was most looking forward to mixing with all the people of different cultures and having the chance to "enhance" her career.
"[My] ultimate dream is to be a full-time actress on stage and screen."
While Miss Latta had been acting since she was a child - taking part in InterAct drama lessons - she "didn’t get serious" about acting until her senior years in high school, where she studied drama with teacher Terry MacTavish.
She said she felt she had the ability to tell stories through performance and drama was a passion.
"[I] feel really at home on stage."
While she did not have any shows coming up, Miss Latta said she had been involved with several during the first year of her theatre studies degree and had also been employed by the Outstanding Performance acting agency, where she pretended to be in car crashes and other emergency situations for medical-student practical sessions.
Ms Latta heads to Hollywood in late June.
Ms Latta is crowdfunding for her trip and donations can be made at www.boosted.org.nz/projects/world-championships-of-performing-arts-holly....
