Gabby wins scholarship

 

 

Gabby Wagner, 15, from Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast, has won the 2018 RAW Company Dance Scholarship.

Gabby beat 55 contenders from across Queensland to take out the $10,000 scholarship which will see her attend RAW’s two-year diploma course in musical theatre starting in Brisbane next year.

For Gabby, the scholarship is simply another step in a dance career that began 11 years ago.

“I started taking jazz and ballet lessons when I was four, before moving into the performance team with Dance Fusion Coolum where I was taught a variety of styles including ballet, contemporary, lyrical, novelty, musical theatre and acrobatics,” she says.

Gabby was aware from an early age that she had a passion for performance. “I always knew I wanted to be a dancer,” she said, “so it wasn’t like I had an epiphany or a moment of realisation. I’ve just always felt comfortable on stage.”

In addition to her school work, the energetic teenager puts in an additional 15 hours a week at the Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance, on top of her commitments to Sunshine Beach High School’s choir and cheerleading team. "I'm in grade 10 and sometimes I wonder how I balance all of this along with my school work but you just have to stay focused and work on one thing at a time.” Gabby was even named 2017 Year 10 School Dux this week.

For RAW’s Artistic Director Jack Chambers, the annual scholarship is a chance for the Moorooka based dance company to give back to the community. “We’ve been running the scholarship program for three years now and over that time we’ve had some incredibly talented young performers audition for us. This year it was Gabby who impressed us with her astonishing technique, creativity and grace and we’re pleased to be able to provide her this opportunity.”