BRINGING smiles to people’s faces is a strong motivation for Wellington Point’s Hayley Boyd to perform the highland fling on stage.
The San Sisto College graduate also enjoys ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary, but it is highland dancing, which she started at the age of 10, that is taking her to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre next month.
Ms Boyd, together with Neryssa Cooper, of Capalaba, is one of two dancers from the Redlands to perform in Scotland the Brave.
They will join internationally renowned soprano, Mirusia Louwerse, who also calls Redlands home, tenor Gregory Moore, Celtic fiddler Marcus Holden and award-winning pipe bands, drum corps, other highland dancers and orchestras on stage.
Eighteen-year-old Ms Boyd followed in her mother’s dancing shoes, taking up lessons when she was about three years old.
Ms Boyd said she loved performing and watching the enjoyment on people’s faces as she danced.
“Seeing the smile on people’s faces as you dance is like a thank you to the dancers,” she said.
Ms Boyd trains with Strictly Dance in Cleveland for all styles, except highland dancing, for which she goes to Thistle Highland Dancing School at Keperra.
Ms Boyd performed at the annual Basel military tattoo show in Switzerland this year and for the Queensland Pops Orchestra in 2017 and 2015.
Now studying to be an early childhood teacher, Ms Boyd hopes to also teach dancing.
“I would like to be a teacher in a broad range of styles and hopefully open my own dance school in the future.”
The smash hit spectacular started a national tour in March, wowing audiences with the best of traditional Scottish music, song and dance.
The program features popular works such as Amazing Grace, Highland Cathedral, The Gael, Ye Banks and Braes and Auld Lang Syne.
Andrew McKinnon, who has toured the show for almost 20 years, said he was delighted by its popularity and the response from Australian and international audiences.
“I have seen multiple performances of this delightful show and its appeal has never waned,” he said.
“Each time I am stirred by the magnificent selection of Scottish music, song and dance, which which the show abounds.
“It is a show I look forward to with immense anticipation, as a highlight of the many and varied presentations I have offered during my 30 years as a producer,” he said.
Scotland the Brave will be at QPAC for shows at 2pm and 8pm on October 21.
To book, visit qpac.com.au/event/scotland_the_brave_17.