Ballerinas rubbed shoulders with chimney sweeps and fairies as young performing artists took over two Alexandra venues for three days.
The occasion was the 15th Alexandra Musical Society’s annual Central Otago competitions.
This year, the event featured sections for tap, jazz and ballet dancing, along with vocal, speech and musical categories. More than 100 young people from all around the country, aged from 5 to 18, took part in the competitions, which started on Friday. The Alexandra Community Centre and adjoining Memorial Theatre were used as venues.
Co-chairwoman of the society’s competitions section Sonia Taylor-van den Yssel said the event was organised by a hard-working committee of six people. The strongest entries were in the ballet and jazz dancing sections; some had 23 entrants.
It was the only "local" competition for young dancers, musicians and singers in the wider Central Otago area.
"Otherwise they have to travel to Dunedin, Christchurch of Invercargill to compete in something like this, so it’s great for a competition to be a bit closer for them."
