By Jessica Anstice
Casey’s Grace Williams occupied a spot in 2019 Top Acts, an evening concert that presents VCE performing arts students who have achieved exemplary results in studies of dance, music and drama.
Ms Williams attended Beaconhills College in Pakenham until Year 9, when she moved across to pursue her career in musical theatre at Patrick Studios Australia in Prahran.
She is now completing her studies through Virtual School Victoria.
Ms Williams started dancing at age three, she has danced in Casey and Cardinia areas since she was in Year 7, and has been training with Cathy Lea in Narre Warren for seven years.
A component of completely a VCE dance subject is choreographing two solos, one technique solo, and one composition or ‘story’ piece.
After three months of studying to enter Top Acts in 2018, Ms Williams was lucky enough to receive a high enough score that qualified her to performed in Top Class Dance.
Top Class Dance is an audition concert, where participants are selected to then perform in the next stage, Top Acts.
“I chose to apply for Top Class because it was a great opportunity to showcase my choreography and dance capabilities,” she said.
“Now that I have been selected, I am required to attend some rehearsals on three separate days and an additional rehearsal on the say on the concert.
“Within these rehearsals I imagine I will hear their outlook on the concert, and learn my track for what I am required to do within the show.”
Ms Williams takes inspiration from the people that surround her every day.
“Being that I attend a performing arts high school, the dancers and teachers there showcase so many different styles of movement that I can take small portions from everyone and morph them together
to create my own style,” she added.
“It is also the environment around me that allows me to create different movements for different emotions.”
Her performance piece at Top Acts will be an emotional dance about domestic violence.
“I have turned to the news and articles written on the topic to educate my movements and how people may feel the need to hide their emotions in these types of circumstances,” she said.
The young performer aspires to enter the musical theatre industry.
“Simply because I love to sing, dance and act and such an experience would be incredibly humbling,” Ms Williams said.
“If it is possible, I hope to fulfil this in New York on Broadway.
“However, when I am older, I think it would be fun to study and pursue a law career.”
