Dance festival begins

The 2023 West Gippsland Dance Festival has begun, showcasing the talent of more than 500 dancers from around West Gippsland and metropolitan Melbourne.
The festival is being staged at the West Gippsland Arts Centre until Sunday September 24 and has already seen solo, troupe and small group performances in ballet, jazz, tap and lyrical.
The West Gippsland Dance Festival has attracted dancers from both Gippsland and metropolitan areas since its inception in 1991.
In keeping with the ever changing dance industry, the Festival has this year created a hip hop solo section.
Festival committee president Chloe Smethurst said hip hop was a big part of the dance industry, featuring prominently in pop culture and music videos.
The Festival committee and volunteers have worked tirelessly to organise the event.
"It's a massive effort," Ms Smethurst said. "Hundreds of hours of work have been done by the time the Festival is wrapped up."
Tickets and programs for the festival can be purchased in the foyer at the West Gippsland Arts Centre.