After last year's cancellation, the halls of Princes Theatre were one again filled with young dancers from across Tasmania eager to hit centre stage.
The Launceston Competitions have been a a fixture on the dance community's calendar since 1902, and the cancellation was only the second in its history and the first since 1935.
Advertisement
Launceston Competitions secretary Margaret East was thrilled with the community's response to the competitions returning.
"We had a volunteer training night last Tuesday and a lot of people were wiling to volunteer and help us run this event again," she said.
Behind the scenes, the 2021 Launceston Competitions looked a little different than usual.
Change rooms were closely monitored for social distancing, with many studios encouraging dancers to get ready at home, while parents had to drop their children off at the rooms and then wait in the audience.
Jontay House, 12, travels down to Launceston from Smithton for dance training every week and was ecstatic to be back on the stage to perform.
"I really missed it last year," she said
For Linda Peters, of Classique Dancentre, this year's Competitions felt like coming back to her second home.
"It was a long, long wait to get back here," she said.
"But it's like we never left."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
Follow us on Google News: The Examiner

Sarah Davison
Education reporter at The Examiner, with an additional focus on issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. With a background in Psychology, Sarah completed her Master's thesis on the Australian media's coverage of familicide. Get in touch: sarah.davison@examiner.com.au or 0448 682 861
Education reporter at The Examiner, with an additional focus on issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. With a background in Psychology, Sarah completed her Master's thesis on the Australian media's coverage of familicide. Get in touch: sarah.davison@examiner.com.au or 0448 682 861