From Newport to Barcelona

Isabelle Bitsikas Photo: Damjan Janevski

Nine-year-old Newport girl Isabelle Bitsikas is heading for Barcelona to compete for a world title after being crowned a Dancer of the Year in the Showcase Australian Dance Championships.

Lisa Anne Hammer, director of The Dance Company in Altona North, said Isabelle started dancing at the studio about age two.

“She competed against 50 other dancers from around Australia and New Zealand to win this prestigious title,” Ms Hammer said.

In the same competition, Isabelle was in one of three groups from the school which won the Battle of the Stars grand final.

Isabelle will go to Barcelona in June to compete in the World Dance Movement International Competition. She says she’s excited at the prospect of meeting so many new people. The national competition had been “really hard, but I pushed through it”.

“I just want to say a big thank you to all my teachers and friends.”