Dance festival underway

The West Gippsland Dance Festival is underway at the West Gippsland Arts Centre with dancers from across Victoria taking to the stage until Sunday.

Now in its 34th year, the festival remains one of the region's premier performing arts events, bringing together hundreds of dancers to compete and perform across a wide range of genres including ballet, jazz, tap, neo-classical, contemporary, hip hop, song and dance, and more.

Festival organisers said there was strong participation from dance schools and independent performers from across Gippsland and beyond, with competitors travelling from a broad range of regional centres to take part.
Festival president Nicole McMillan said the committee was pleased to welcome dancers, families and supporters back to the arts centre.
"There's always such a great atmosphere once the festival gets underway and the venue starts filling with dancers and their families," she said.
This year's festival has drawn more than 1850 entries, with organisers delighted to see participation levels remain on par with last year.
Ms McMillan said the strong entry numbers were an encouraging sign of the festival's continued popularity.
"To have our numbers remain so strong is really encouraging," she said.
"We have schools coming from across Victoria this year, with some new schools joining us for the first time as well as so many familiar faces returning. We think that's a really positive sign for the festival and shows the continued support we have from the wider dance community."
The festival has continued to evolve in recent years, with newer sections such as classical variations and hip hop duos proving popular additions to the program.
Organisers said the event was about more than competition, providing young dancers with an opportunity to build confidence, develop performance skills and form lasting friendships within the dance community.
The popular "For the Love of Dance" award has returned throughout the festival, recognising competitors who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship, encouragement and a genuine passion for dance.
"It's an award we really love because it recognises what the festival is ultimately about: the enjoyment of dance, supporting one another and being part of the experience, rather than simply the results," Ms McMillan said.
The committee also acknowledged the support of sponsors and local organisations that help make the event possible.
"We're also very fortunate to have the ongoing support of the West Gippsland Arts Centre and its fantastic staff. They work closely with us to help bring the festival to life each year, and having such an amazing venue right here in our community is something we really value."