The Cowra Ballet School has closed the curtain on another busy eisteddfod season, celebrating the dedication, spirit, and teamwork of its dancers.
For studio owner Hayley Barker, the experience was not only about competition results but about the joy of performance, the friendships built, and the life skills developed along the way.
“It’s another opportunity to perform and showcase their skills to the wider community and their parents,” Ms Barker said.
“It’s also a great opportunity to watch and appreciate other performances by local studios and those as far as Canberra, Mudgee and Dubbo.”
While eisteddfods are ultimately competitions, Cowra Ballet School places equal, if not greater, value on the experience and personal growth of its students.
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“We educate our dancers in being good sportspeople who support and encourage everyone regardless of where they are from and which dance studio they attend,” Ms Barker said.
“Yes, eisteddfods are ultimately a competition, and while it is wonderful to be recognised in the top few performances of a category, dancers from Cowra Ballet School are absolutely thrilled to have the performance opportunity above everything else.”
She added that her dancers have a healthy perspective on results, saying, “when they reflect on their performance and the performance the other teams gave that day”.
“We are realistic about the standards and understand that there are a lot of factors that come into play when deciding on a winner," Ms Barker said.
“The dancers can appreciate and congratulate all winning routines no matter where they are from."
The commitment shown by students throughout the season impressed their teacher.
Long days of rehearsals, late nights at competitions, and the high demands of performance never dimmed their enthusiasm.
“The balance is easy with this group,” Ms Barker said.
“They are so dedicated and give themselves and each other the drive that is needed.
“They truly love dancing and performing.
“Even the long days at competitions and late nights haven’t dampened their spirits,” she said.
Part of what makes the eisteddfod season so memorable is the camaraderie backstage.
For the Cowra Ballet School team, the dressing room is a space filled with music, laughter, and creativity.
“Our dressing room space could be compared to that of a friends’ sleepover,” she said.
“We keep it relaxed, we bring the tunes, they construct a candy salad and fill in the spare time with dance offs and rap battles.
“It’s a lot of fun."
The teamwork and adaptability learned in preparing for competitions also play an important role in shaping the dancers’ character.
“Teamwork in the lead-up, the sense of responsibility and being reliable for their team is really important,” Ms Barker said.
“They also learn to be flexible and adaptable to different circumstances, sometimes at short notice.
“Sickness and unexpected situations occur, sometimes requiring a last-minute change of formation or choreography.
“The way they learn to handle that is a skill that will take them through life,” she said.
The season wasn’t without recognition, with Cowra Ballet School receiving a Highly Commended placing in the open contemporary section at the Orange Eisteddfod.
“The section was very competitive, and to receive a mention is really pleasing for us,” Ms Barker said.
