Dancing to top of the world

MAARTEN HOLL/Dominion Post

TWO STEP: Stokes Valley's Matiu Samuel has won a US dance scholarship that will put him in the limelight in Los Angeles.

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Matiu Samuel is making all the right moves - and now he appears to have the world at his feet.

The Stokes Valley nine-year-old's dancing talents have won him the Hollywood Tour Scholarship with the Source Dance Company in Los Angeles next year.

Winning the scholarship was just the next step for Matiu, who loves tap, jazz and hip-hop and won the Junior World Dancing Championship in Las Vegas last year.

The scholarship allows him to take part in a week-long workshop, learning from the best choreographers in the industry, including some who work with stars such as Britney Spears.

Los Angeles' top dance agents will also be at the workshop, keeping an eye out for the next big thing.

Matiu beat 26 other dancers and was the youngest in his age group at the auditions held in September.

"He's just dancing all the time, so it's nothing for him," said his mother, Maureen Samuel.

"It just all goes over his head. I'm not even sure if he realises what he's in for."

Matiu has been dancing since he was 18 months old.

He caught the bug from his sisters Aroha, 17, and Marie, 11, who are also accomplished dancers.

One instructor from the Source Dance Company was so swept away by Matiu's talent and stage presence that he wanted to take Matiu to the States for tuition.

"That's an open door at the moment," Mrs Samuel said. "There is the possibility of going to the States but I'm a bit scared of that right now. We'll just see what happens."

Matiu's mum thinks his appeal lies in his maturity and naturalness on stage, which are "beyond his years".

The workshop will coincide with the 2009 World Dancing Championships, also held in Los Angeles, which Matiu and his sisters will compete in.

The trip will cost the family about $20,000, which they managed to raise last year with the help of community groups, such as the Masonic Lodge and Rotary clubs.

Though the dancing scene has its competitive side, Matiu is not bothered about rivalry because dancing is such a passion for him, Mrs Samuel says.

Matiu is keen for a second trip to Disneyland and is looking forward to "learning new stuff".

"What would I do if I didn't dance, Mum?" he asked.

"I don't know! Play rugby?" she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News