While most of us are sleeping at one o’clock on Friday morning, two young Warrnambool dancers will be flying the flag for their country at an international dance meet.
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Thirteen year-old Zahli Kelson and her fifteen year-old dance partner Issac Suckling were chosen to carry the Australian flag at the opening of the United Dance Organisation world street dance championships in Glasgow.
The pair will join more than 43 nations competing in the three-day event for the title of best hip-hop dancers.
The three-day event will run from August 23 to 26.
While the dance duo were taking preparations in their stride on the weekend, Zahli’s mother Lia said the parents weren’t faring quite as well.
“They’re stoked,” she said. “They’ll get up there and just do their thing.
“While us parents are just so nervous.”
Ms Kelson said the rules of this year’s competition were tougher than previous events.
“They’re normally given a song and they learn a routine and create choreography that’s between one and three minutes long,” she said.
“They know the song a few months prior.
“This year they won’t know the song choice until they’re on stage.
“All they know is that it’s between 110 and 130 beats per minute.”
Ms Kelson said while the pair had qualified to compete in the world championships during 2016, expenses had delayed travel for more than 12 months.
“They’ve been busy selling chocolates, pies, having movie nights, and raffles,” she said. “Everyone has worked so hard to make this happen and we’re really grateful.”
related: Hip-hopping duo set to hit Scotland
