TWO talented teenage movers and shakers have had a sensational year to make their mark in the highly competitive and vibrant arena of dance sport.
Shae Mountain and Samantha Gemmell represented the Society of Australasian Teachers of Dancers (SATD) at this year’s Australian Dancesport Championships at Melbourne, where they were successful in claiming four coveted winner’s titles.
“They competed against Australia’s top level couples and others from as far away as Singapore,” says Shae’s proud mum Julie Mountain.
Shae and Samantha won the junior (under-16s) open Latin American dance title at the South Pacific Championships, which were held in Sydney during October.
Their Latin dance routines included classy examples of steps in rumba, samba, cha cha, paso doble and jive.
“Shae and Samantha went into the Australian Dancesport Champs confident they would be successful in the Latin American open competition,” says Mrs Mountain.
“We were delighted when they won not only that event but three other Australian titles.
“These included the junior open ballroom competition.
“Two of the country’s other top junior couples, from Christchurch, were also highly placed in these events making it a great event for New Zealand dancers.”
Samantha attends Pakuranga College, while Shae is a student at Botany Downs Secondary College.
They are coached by dance teacher Samantha Malloch, a New Zealand and Australasian dance sport champion.
Mrs Mountain says they are keen to continue their successes in 2010, when they will compete in the youth and adult divisions after Shae’s 16th birthday.
They are looking for sponsors to enable them to travel and compete internationally for New Zealand.
