Dance a tradition

Highland dancer Sarah Jamison prepares to take part in the Oamaru Performing Arts Society's...
Highland dancer Sarah Jamison prepares to take part in the Oamaru Performing Arts Society's annual festival yesterday. Photo by Sally Rae.
When 4-year-old Sarah Jamison donned her kilt and pumps to make her dancing debut at the Oamaru Performing Arts Society's festival yesterday, she was continuing a family tradition.

Sarah was following in the footsteps of her mother, Vicki Jamison, and grandmother Margaret Newlands, who have also danced at the festival.

Her aunts Andrea Buchan and Claire Nimmo also danced when they were younger, and her cousin Arnika Buchan (9) was dancing yesterday.

Sarah said she had been "practising lots" since she started dancing lessons in October last year, and she admitted to having a few nerves.

The society's 73rd annual festival has attracted 1060 entries - the best for 11 years. While the speech, vocal and instrumental section entries were down, ballet, tap and highland dancing were up.

Former Oamaru woman Tania Robb, now living in Auckland, returned home to judge the highland dancing.

The festival finishes tomorrow.

 

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