By Luke Voogt
East Geelong teen Kennedy Jones will take on the world’s best highland dancers when she travels to Scotland this August.
Travelling to the Scottish town of Cowal will be dream come true for the Kiwi-expat, who has danced since she was five years old.
“I’ve never been (to Scotland) so I’m quite excited,” the 13-year-old told the Indy Tuesday.
“It will be tiring, but it will be great being around all the girls.”
Kennedy will perform in the 12 to 15 age group at eight different events across Scotland, including the world qualifiers at the Cowal Highland Gathering.
She will also perform at Scotland the Brave, featuring more than 100 Celtic singers, dancers, and musicians, in Melbourne from 30 June to 2 July.
The Year 8 student resumed highland dancing in Australia a month after her family moved to Geelong from New Zealand in January.
“But (it was) a different style though, so I basically had to restart everything,” she said.
After just a few months of learning the style, Kennedy scored an invite to Scotland from her dance teacher Sarah Adams.
She has since has placed highly in both Victorian and national competitions.
“I’ve been doing a few competitions now just to prepare for Scotland,” she said.
Kennedy travels to Werribee and Melbourne weekly for dance practice with mum Bianca – her biggest fan.
“I try not to distract her, but after every performance I praise her because I think she’s just wonderful,” Bianca said.
“Dealing with the traffic was crazy, but now we’re used to it, so it’s just what we do.
“I’m extremely proud. I didn’t do anything like that when I was young, so it was a bit of an eye-opener.”
Bianca was not worried about her daughter travelling without her and said Kennedy was “quite mature”.
“But it will be strange not having her around the house for so long.”
