Ivy Oldershaw may have started dancing later than most of her peers, but she sure is making up for it.
The Cambridge High School year 12 student is heading to the United States in July to compete in two international dance competitions in California and Arizona.
Not bad considering it was only four years ago that the now 16-year-old stopped her obsession with horse riding and replaced it with ballet.
Now all styles of dance are in her sights including hip-hop.
Her mother Jane says Ivy started ballet at KS School of Dance in Cambridge and soon picked up jazz followed by contemporary.
“(Dance) has become a fully fledged passion and under the guidance of Kellie (Schroer) and her team, she has really found her thing.”
Ivy is studying dance for NCEA and earlier this year auditioned for a part in the nationally renowned Tauranga Space Studios which has produced winning hip-hop teams for years under the direction of Cameron Smith.
She was accepted – the only one from Cambridge – and ever since has made regular trips over the Kaimai Range to train, resulting in she and her team winning first place in their category at the World of Dance qualifier events which gave them entry into competitions in Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Ivy must fundraise for the trip and has been selling tea towels of her own design to get the thousands of dollars needed.
She is an assistant teacher at KS Dance School working with junior ballet dancers and is working towards gaining her International Dance Teachers’ Association certification. Last year she won the Thornton Cup for diligence in dance at the high school and this year, in addition to being a member of the dance committee, she also takes the junior hip-hop troupe.
That in addition to dancing five nights a week and training in Tauranga every Friday.
The family moved to Cambridge from Auckland when Ivy was in Year Two and she started at Cambridge East Primary School in Year Three and then onto Cambridge Middle School.
“She woke up one morning at age 12 and decided she wanted to do ballet so nagged me until we enrolled her at KS Dance School.
“She hasn’t looked back, and her focus and dedication are something to observe,” said Jane.
Ivy Oldershaw performing last year at the Faces of Movement dance competition in Auckland. Photo: Beth Maskey.
