The Marlborough Girls’ College Year 11 student took out the highest ranking at the New Zealand Highland Dancing Championships in Tauranga recently.

Chloe was the highest ranked female dancer in the under 16 category and was also one of two recipients of the Lady Amie MacRuari of Garmoran Memorial Prize.

Chloe was judged and won on a range of 10 individual New Zealand dance disciplines which included the likes of the Sword Dance (dancer crosses two swords on the ground and dances around and within the four quarters), the Irish Hornpipe and the Irish Reel. She won four New Zealand Championship titles, three seconds, two fifths and one seventh place, achieving the highest points overall. Indeed, nothing captures the spirit of Scottish culture more than the sight of Highland Dancing telling a story. It was the 15-year-old who interpreted various dances and narratives to be the best of the best. 

Chloe has been dancing since she was an eight-year-old. When asked if she felt like a champion there was a graceful humility albeit a proud smile on full display. “Yeh, kind of but in some ways it doesn’t feel real that I have won it,” she reflects. “I’m lucky that I have someone like Robyn in my corner who is passionate for not only me but every dancer in what we do.” “We focus on little bits at a time like pointing feet or turning legs out – the technique of it all. Then we practice and practice.” 

Marlborough Academy of Dance teacher Robyn Simmons says Chloe has a natural aptitude and talent as a ‘beautiful dancer’. However, what sets her apart and special, according to Robyn, is her drive, passion and commitment. “Her work ethic is amazing,” she says. “She does the hard yards and is willing to listen and improve. She is a beautiful dancer and inspiring role model for our younger MAD dancers and we are enormously proud of her.” Robyn says all the MAD dancers have an ‘interpretive quality’ and have to do their respective theory or homework on the back story of all the Highland dances and complete this through their exams they have to sit. “The Seann Triubhas is a classic Highland dance which is a story of how the Scots were forbidden in the last Battle of Culloden (April 1746) to wear their Highland kilts or tartan including their bag pipes,” says Robyn “The music is slow so the dance is soft and graceful, then the piper breaks into a quicker tune and becomes joyful and light to show the joy and delight of being able to once again where their kilts.” 

Every MAD dancer returned home achieving placings with the following overall rankings in their respective age groups; Sophie Popham, ninth overall Under 18; Ella Meys, fourth overall 12-14 years; Hemione Roach sixth overall, 12 – 14 years; Hannah Blick fourth overall, 10-12 years; Annabelle Hook, fourth overall, 8 – 10 years; Willa Connor, runner up six and under; Sophie Hook, third overall, six and under. Modern Highland dancing emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was ‘created’ from the Gaelic folk dance repertoire, but formalised with the conventions of ballet. 

Congratulations Chloe, we are super proud of you!

Footnote: The Lady Amie MacRuari prize is a cash scholarship sponsored by Clan Donald Trust for the Gaelic Performing Arts for the highest ranked female dancer.