Geelong Elite Dance Studio performers heading to Florida for world championships

An all-girls hip hop team and a cheerleader from Geelong will make their way to the World Cheerleading and Dance Championships at Disney World in Florida next month.

An all-girls hip hop team and a cheerleader from Geelong will next month make their way to the World Cheerleading and Dance Championships at Disney World in Florida.

Hip hop dance group Turbulence will compete in the Open Women’s Elite Hip Hop Division, while cheerleader Keira Wilson has been selected to join Team Australia’s All Girl Cheer Team.

Both the Turbulence team, which includes Jess Dean, Brianna Zurawel and Layla Smith, and Ms Wilson train at Geelong Elite Dance Studio.

Head coach Kirralee Badham said there was a sense of nervous excitement.

“We’re representing Geelong and we are representing Australia,” she said.

“Everyone is really excited, it’s just such a big event with thousands and thousands of people.

“You’ve always got that element of nervousness, but I think that’s a healthy thing – it

keeps you on your toes and striving that bit more.”

Team Turbulence. Picture: Brad Fleet.

The team of 14 girls earned their invitation via the Aussie Gold State Hip Hop Championships in Adelaide last year.

“We’re training really hard and putting in lots of hours of rehearsal and training behind the scenes,” Ms Badham said.

“The girls are also working on their fitness and strength, so they’re all working pretty

hard as individuals, as well as a team.”

Turbulence is coached by Ms Badham, alongside Erin and Georgia Cowling.

“We have a routine, the one we won the bid with, and we have kept the main concept

but we’ve been doing lots of upgrades to it,” Ms Badham said.

“It’s quite a complex routine, very energetic, and we’ve continued to upgrade it.”

Ms Badham said Ms Wilson had been training hard and would represent Geelong in a team of Australia’s best cheerleaders.

“She’s Geelong born and bred,” Ms Badham said.

“She would have been six or seven when she started with us, and she’s 19 now.

“We’re very lucky that we have such a fantastic community.”

Turbulence’s Layla Smith said the team was looking forward to the energy at the international event.

“I’m really excited for the atmosphere of such a big event and to be performing on the world stage in front of so many people,” Ms Smith said.

The team is self-funded and looking to the community for extra support, with a GoFundMe page established to help raise funds.

The event will be held April 26-28 at Disney World.

Originally published as Geelong Elite Dance Studio performers heading to Florida for world championships