Girls head for the Highland stage

By Nicole Williams
BRONTE and Prudence Sage are raising money to be able to compete in the Highland Dancing World Championship in Scotland in August this year.
The Upper Beaconsfield girls are two of the best young Highland dancers in Australia and are hoping to make it to Scotland to compete against some of the best in the world.
“It’s very exciting,” Prudence, 8, said.
Bronte, 11, is currently the Victorian and Commonwealth Championship holder and came second in her age group in Scotland last year.
Prudence is also showing a lot of talent and has won 10 championship titles in Australia since reaching the championship age group (seven to 12-years-old).
Bronte and Prudence’s mum Venlo believes their interest in Scotland and Highland dancing came from their great grandmother who was Scottish.
“It must be their heritage coming out in them,” she said.
“They appreciate that every Highland dance has history and courage and spirit in it.”
Harcourts Beaconsfield have got behind the girls by providing sponsorship and assisting with fundraising efforts.
Sales consultant with Harcourts Beaconsfield Lorraine Ward said she was so impressed with the girls’ dedication that she wanted to help.
“Harcourts and I are dedicated to helping them achieve their dream of attending the World Championships in Scotland in August 2011,” she said.
“To do this we need to help them raise the money required to participate.”
The family and Harcourts are running sausage sizzles, a colouring competition and will have a drive-in movie night to raise the $10,000 target.
“Harcourts are helping a lot,” Bronte said.
Venlo said the support from Harcourts and Lorraine had been wonderful.
“We went in looking for land and we came out with sponsorship,” she said.
The drive-in movie night will be on Friday 4 February at Akoonah Park, Berwick.
Gates open at 6.30pm and The Chronicles of Narnia – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will be shown at dusk.
A sausage sizzle and drinks stall will be run by the Narre Warren Lions Club.
Tickets are $25 per car and are available from Harcourts Beaconsfield or by calling Lorraine on 0414 249 590 or Cathy on 0431 656 034.