Three young Warrnambool aerialists are heading to Brisbane to compete at the Australian Circus Festival.
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Matilda Allen, 15, Amarli Frankel, 12, and Isabella Dean, 10, will join some of the world's best circus performers as they fly above the stage on the lyra (or hoop) and the silks.
Matilda, who is competing on the lyra, said all of the girls had to submit an audition video to be selected for the prestigious competition.
"We send in professional videos from other competitions we have done on stage," Matilda said.
"The festival runs every two years, so it's a pretty big competition, there are people from all around the world coming (to compete)."
Matilda said she will have an interview with a Cirque du Soleil casting director while in Brisbane.
"Performers are being scouted for circus troupes across the world," she said.
"The casting director will be looking at a lot of people but will see what I am capable of.
"This sport is different and challenging, it's not like average dancing it is more diverse.
"It can be pretty scary sometimes, when we are learning a trick in training you wrap yourself up and you don't want to drop but your coach tells you that is the only way to get down."
Amarli, who will compete on the silks, said she likes to be able to perform the routine as she wants.
"There is a lot of creativity and a lot of opportunity, we are not stuck on one routine for the whole year," she said.
Hoop performer Isabella said she was looking forward to watching the other competitors and the professional circus performers display their routines in Brisbane.
All three girls will compete at the Australian Circus Festival on Saturday 30 November. Isabella and Matilda will also assist as junior judges during the Brisbane competition.
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