Dancers win a medals haul

TOP PLACINGS: Kate Treweek and Timothy Ly placed in the top three in five categories, including first in the adult level one ballroom section.

STEPPING UP: Orewa resident Kate Treweek, 16, with partner Timothy Ly at the New Zealand Dancesport Championships in Christchurch.

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Orewa resident Kate Treweek, 16, has returned with a handful of trophies from a successful national dance competition in Christchurch.

Kate and dance partner Timothy Ly from the North Shore competed over Labour weekend at the New Zealand Dancesport Championships, entering all possible events.

The pair placed first in the adult level one ballroom, second in the youth level one ballroom, second in the adult level one new vogue, second in the adult Latin, and third in the adult level two new vogue.

Kate has been dancing since she was four.

"I did jazz ballet for a few years from when I was four but I started this type of dancing around five years ago. I’ve always enjoyed performing though."

This is the second year Kate has been doing competitions.

"It takes a lot of work together with your partner, you spend a lot of time practising. We did around three hours a day, six days a week. You get very fit and it’s fun to do."

Last year Kate went to You Can Too dance studio in Albany, but this year she stepped it up and went to Tempo Dance Studio in Birkenhead, where she started training with current dance partner Timothy.

"My coaches Mike and Trish, Nadia and Carol, have all helped me improve a lot. They’re an awesome team at the studio. I really enjoy dancing, it’s something that you can keep and come back too, it’s always useable.

"I enjoy the social side of it. We can go to the RSA and different dances."

Next year Kate wants to give dancing a break and concentrate on finishing high school.

"I’m homeschooled and want to concentrate on study more. I’m hoping to learn Mandarin and I want to study arts and linguistics in the future."

Other dancers from Tempo Dance Studio made finals.

The team took 10 national titles at the Christchurch competitions, including the New Zealand Formation Team Championship.

The Tempo Dance Studio team will be performing at the Spring Christmas Festival at Browns Bay Leisure Centre on November 14.

- © Fairfax NZ News