Chance to help line dancers compete for world title

A NORTHERN Rivers dance school is hosting community events to help its students return to the world stage after winning an international line dancing title last year.

The Heart of Dance will host a Paint and Sip day at the studio on Saturday, May 3, followed by a Country Arvo on the greens at Club Lennox Sports on Saturday, May 10.

The school won the World Dance Masters Line Dancing Championship in the United Kingdom last year.

They were later awarded Australian Line Dance Club of the Year off the back of their efforts overseas.

A group of 17 dancers is preparing to compete again in 2026, with months of training ahead. The bowling club event will include dance displays, a chance to learn how to line dance, and a hat spinning competition.

Coach Kerren Kernaghan said having the opportunity to compete overseas inspires students as young as nine years old at the dance school.

“Being able to travel to the UK last year to dance and compete was life changing,” she said.

“Most of our dancers had never been overseas before. It’s not just about winning, it’s quality time for families and for our school community.”

Jessie Kernaghan choreographs the dances, with the team preparing to compete against more than 1500 dancers from 25 countries when they return to the UK.

The school offers a wide range of classes in contemporary dance, hip hop, line dancing, jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet, acrobatic and musical theatre.

Kerren Kernaghan and a team of 45 dancers, parents and teachers recently attended the Grafton Eisteddfod, winning the 10 and under lyrical dance and 12 and under jazz dance competitions.

It followed wins for the school in Perth in March and Wollongong in September.

The bowling club event is free and will be held between 4pm and 6pm.

Bookings for the Paint and Sip class can be made by contacting Kerren on 0431 634 313 or emailing [email protected].