A GROUP of Glen Waverley dancers are about to show off their talent to the world.

More than 20 dancers from the Wendon Dance Academy will take centre stage at the coming Crown International Dance Festival in Melbourne.

Instructor and event organiser Don McRobert said the pressure of competition was the best way for young dancers to hone their craft.

"It is like anything in life: competition, facing a test makes you better," he said.

"You need more than just lessons if you want to improve at anything, from maths to dancing - you must be tested." The Wendon dancers will compete in several categories, including a Mexican theme, ballroom, hip hop, tap and Latin.

The academy has traditionally performed well at the festival, which Mr McRobert said attracted some of the best dancers in Australia and South-East Asia.

Hip hop artist Tommy Rollinson has won his category for the past two years, and used it to catapult him into Australian and world championship events.

The three-day festival begins on April 13 at Crown Casino.∆

Reproduced from a Leader newspaper article on dancers from Wendon Dance Academy taking part in the Crown International Dance Festival 2008.

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