McKenna flings to the top!

Scottish lineage runs through her curved ngers above raised arms mid- ing, right down patterned sock-covered legs to the tip of her pointed toes in black Ghillies.

But for Pyes Pa girl McKenna Hills, highland dancing is more than just a family tradition – it’s a passion she loves, and is quickly learning that if she works hard at, the practice will pay o .

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After nine solo performances during three days on Matariki weekend, the nine-year-old was named champion of the Under-10 section of the Highland and National Dancing New Zealand Championships hosted in Tauranga. “I love highland dancing because I get to perform on the stage – and I like to make lots of friends,” says McKenna, a Year 5 student at Pyes Pa Road School.

Not only did she compete against more than 25 dancers in her grade, she also had an injury to contend with. Mother Jacinda Hills says most competitors go into peak training mode before national championships, but McKenna had injured the base of her heel. “She had really good help from Avenues Physio...and her dance teacher Christine Paul also helped ne-tune her training. Usually it’s pretty intense, but we had step back a bit due to the injury.”

Ird Generation

Luckily, with Jacinda being an ex-dance teacher, some training was done at home. “McKenna is the third generation in our family to do highland dancing. It was a tradition for my mother and then me – because my grandparents came out from Ayrshire in Scotland.”

McKenna began highland dancing at age three –and this isn’t her rst win at the nationals. “Two years ago she entered the championship when it was held in Oamaru. en aged seven, she took won the Under-8 section,” say proud parents

Jacinda and Darin. McKenna trains at Christine Paul School of Dance in Te Puna – and swimming squad with Liz Van Welie Aquatics is the nearest rival to her passion for dance. “She knows seven out of the possible 10 dances that all Highland dancers eventually learn,” says Jacinda.

“I like them all but I really like ‘ e Sailor’s Hornpipe’,” says McKenna who gets to dress up in traditional sailor’s attire and hat. “Our hats can fall o but my nanny sows my hats the perfect size!”

To claim her 2023 title, McKenna achieved six wins and three second placings from nine performances.

Two rankings e championships, from July 15-18 at Baycourt, saw more than 150 youngsters from around Aotearoa compete in sections from Under-6s – at two-year increments – to Under18s. “All Under-18 and Under-16 performances were NZ Championships, which are combined to rank the top 10 dancers in these grades,” says Jacinda.“Two of our local girls were ranked.

“Tyra Heng is now NZ number four in the Under-16s; and Isla MacFarlane is NZ number ve in the Under-18 category.”

McKenna likes watching the older girls dance. “I’ve got lots of idols and role models; mostly I like learning o them.” Go McKenna!