Sofia Lydyard GWB Studio and Marden Calisthenics College voted SA’s best up and coming dancer

The votes are in: See the state’s top five best up and coming dancers. The winner is a seasoned professional – at age 10 – and that helped her take out the top mantle.

Sofia Lydyard might only be 10, but she’s already a seasoned star of the SA dance world.

That stardom has been further confirmed with the Highbury ballet enthusiast named the state’s best up and coming dancer.

Sofia said it was just another step along a pathway to her greatest goals.

“I want to go to Hollywood on the red carpet wearing pointe shoes on a catwalk,” she said.

And she’s also got a dream to own a studio one day and choreograph her own dances.

Ballet dancer Sofia Lydyard, 10, has been named the best up and coming dancer in SA. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

With eight years of experienced already under her belt, Sofia has put together a decorated resume complete with a RAD ballet Gwen Mackey award and scholarship.

And just recently she took her talents to the national stage where she took home top honours from the Sunshine Coast’s Calisthenics Cali Unite competition for her graceful solo performances.

But Sofia’s rising star could have been identified as early as when she was just a couple of days old and accompanied her mum, Melissa Lydyard, to the theatre.

Mrs Lydyard, a dance and calisthenics teacher herself, said Sofia took like a duck – or swan – to water from the moment she slipped on her first tutu.

“Dancing has always been in our family,” she said.

“It and music have always been a huge part of my life.”

Despite her tender age, Sofia Lydyard, 10, already has eight years’ dance experience. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette)

Sofia Lydyard when she was just four with Marden Calisthenics College coach Nikki Ianunzio. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Mrs Lydyard said the best dancer competition win was a reflection of the way her daughter approached dancing.

“She’s such a hard worker, she constantly takes on corrections to better herself and she just loves to dance,” she said.

“She loves seeing herself and her peers succeed and she’s so supportive of her friends and is really respectful.”

Sofia, who dances with highly regarded GWB Studio at Mile End as well as Marden Calisthenics College, beat out some stiff competition from across the state.

Just behind Sofia came Chiara Greco from Burnside Calisthenics & Dance Academy who was described as wise beyond her years.

Matilda Hambidge-Hay from TIDC performing arts studio at Elizabeth rounded out the top three and was seen as “inspiring” to the next generation of dancers.

Amelia Tyler, also from TIDC performing arts studio, and Yanina Klimenchuk, LJR Dance Academy, North Adelaide came in fourth and fifth respectively.