Skylar (right) and little brother Tom with their cousin Zharie (left), who is the inspiration behind Skylar’s charity.
Skylar Schmidt has been dancing since she could walk, and the 11-year-old who just loves being on stage is now holding her own dance competition in Corowa this month to raise money for the Royal Children's Hospital.
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The Reach for the Sky charity dance competition will be held at Club Corowa on September 26 and 27 featuring dancers from as young as five years old through to 16 and over across genres, such as jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theatre.
More than 300 entrants have signed up for the competition, and the event has already sold out, raising $9,000 before it has even started.
Skylar has been fundraising for the Royal Children’s Hospital through her dancing for several years now, and says it’s a passion driven by what the hospital had done for her cousin Zharie, who has needed regular treatment since she was born.
“There are a lot of people in our dance community and our school community that have ties to the Royal Children's,” Skylar said.
“It’s made massive difference in their lives, so I just wanted to give something back.
“I’ve been fundraising since I was about six; it’s been a passion project of mine for a long time.
“It’s something I want to keep doing for the rest of my life.”
Skylar at Body Basics Dance Academy in Corowa where she practices every day; it’s a passion that she lives for.
Photo by
Ian Johnson
Skylar’s fundraising started by collecting bottles and cans and selling lolly bags at dance competitions and donating the money to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
It didn’t take long before she wanted to do something bigger.
Bottles, cans and lollies turned into crazy hair days and Easter parties hosted through Body Basics Dance Academy where Skylar trains nearly every day.
She also dances for sick kids through the Ronald McDonald House charity Dance For Sick Kids (DFSK).
Each May during National Families Week, participants seek sponsorship from donors, video-record their dancing and log their dance hours; the more they dance, the more money they raise for sick and injured children.
Collectively, through her own efforts and DFSK, Skylar has raised more than $20,000 over the last six years, not including the money she will raise through Reach for the Sky.
Skylar took on the world at the Dance World Cup in Dublin in July.
The young dancer recently competed in the Dance World Cup in Dublin, where she finished 18th in the Showstopper category, 21st in Lyrical, and 30th in Street.
“I love being on stage and being able to perform for my friends and others,” Skylar said.
“I practice every day in the morning, at school, and at dance classes.
“Hip hop and lyrical are my favourites, but I dance all styles.
“I don’t want to do it as a career though; I want to be a doctor.”
Skylar’s mum, Danielle, has been helping along the way and said she couldn’t be prouder of her daughter’s charity, ambition and efforts.
Skylar in one of three dances she performed at the Dance World Cup in Dublin.
