DANCING is so much more than just moving about to music, for Amelia Thai, it is part of her culture, part of her world.
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The Bathurst woman has just turned 18 and has been dancing since she was just four years old.
Now, she is getting ready for the most important dance of her life.
Her dance crew, Kookies n Kream, is well known to many Australians after they reached the grand finals on reality television show Australia’s Got Talent in 2012.
At the time, judges Brian McFadden, Dannii Minogue and Kyle Sandilands gave glowing praise for their performance.
”You’ve got superb energy on stage, the way you all work together, you guys are awesome,” Mr McFadden said.
While not in Kookies n Kream at the time, Ms Thai joined them a couple of years later and now they are about to head to the United States to compete with them in the Hip Hop International competition.
But, for Ms Thai, it has been a long road to the international stage.
“I’ve been dancing since I was four years old, I do hip hop, jazz, contemporary and gymnastics,” she said.
“Because I’ve been dancing for such a long time I’ve been able to develop and grow as a dancer.
“I love being able to express my thoughts, feelings and creativity in other ways than just through words.
“It is definitely a big part of my life.”
As the years have gone by, hip hop and jazz dancing have become Ms Thai’s favourite styles.
“Hip hop dance is a culture. It sounds strange to say it, but I would call it a culture. We [fellow dancers] share the same passion and beliefs,” she said.
“I love how it’s people from different backgrounds who share the same passion.”
I love the high-energy response you get from the audience. For me it’s breathtaking … it’s completely mind-blowing.
- Hip hop dancer Amelia Thai
Unlike many other types of dancing, Ms Thai said the audience is encouraged to cheer and yell out messages of support during the performance.
“I love the high-energy response you get from the audience,” she said.
“Every five to 10 seconds there’s a moment where you want the audience to have a reaction and be vocal.
“For me it’s breathtaking … it’s completely mind-blowing.”
When off the stage, Ms Thai studies dance and business at university.
“I’d like to establish myself as a dance teacher and one day open up a dance school of my own,” she said.
“I've always found myself teaching kids and enjoying the time I spend with kids.”
Earlier this year, Ms Thai and the Kookies and Kream dance crew took their first steps towards the Hip Hop International competition.
“We competed in the regional finals, we took out first place,” she said.
“It’s actually the world’s number one hip hop competition.
“From that, we were asked to come back for the nationals competition and we have made the top four and that’s how we got asked to represent Australia on an international level.”
The next round for Kookies n Kream will be at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship which is being held in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States from August 7-12.
More than 4000 of the world’s best dancers from 50 countries will compete for top honours.
When asked if she was feeling nervous before her first international competition, Ms Thai said the answer was easy.
“It’s so exciting, I don’t feel nervous at all. I feel excited to be representing the country,” she said.
- Kookies n Kream have set up a Go Fund Me fundraising page to help pay for their trip to the US to compete.