Acting on screen dreams

A Kununurra school-girl has been awarded a scholarship for a prestigious arts school, giving her the opportunity to pursue her passion and professional aspirations with the start of her high school career.

Indi Lord, who recently turned 12, qualified for a gifted and talented secondary round one offer of placement to John Curtin College of the Arts selective drama program, which will take her through her schooling from Year 7 next year to Year 12.

She received her place among 270 arts students from a pool of about 1500 applications for John Curtin College’s arts programs.

Indi and her family moved to Kununurra when she was two years old but they will return to Perth next year to support her new journey.

She said she seriously began dreaming of becoming a professional performer since she was eight years old.

“I would like to work in a movie or TV show, or have my own theatre,” she said.

“I like doing drama, it’s really fun and I get to express every-thing when I do it.

“I think (the school) will JUpush me more and I will get more opportunities down there.”

Indi has been a student at local studio Addicted to Dance for the past six years, which sparked her love of the stage and gave her the chance to travel and compete in competitions in Darwin.

She has also worked with Barking Gecko Theatre, become a member of Perform Act Dance WA after they visited the region to hold dance and drama workshops while scouting for talent, as well as been an ambassador for Madmia socks.

Addicted to Dance director Amanda Doyle said Miss Lord won an award at the PADWA drama workshop her students participated in a few years ago, which was a turning point in the young artists’ journey.

“She wanted to go down that field and after the workshop she really stepped up her dancing and acting, learning new tricks,” she said.

“I’ve basically given her the tools and she’s run with it and made it her own.

“I’m hoping big things for her, I think she’s going to be a star! If she keeps working the way she is, she’s got the passion for it, the talent and the drive.”

Miss Lord and her family, including her mother Kellie Rocke, were sad to leave their friends and lifestyle in the East Kimberley.

Ms Rocke said the decision to explore pathways for her daughter’s future in the performing arts had been over a year in the making.

“The school up here is wonderful but its just not targeted at what Indi is interested in,” she said.

“I just started looking at what was on offer down in Perth, not really knowing where it was going to go.

“We never thought of moving away but as Indi’s passion for the arts unfolded it became more clear that we may have to leave.”

To qualify for the scholarship, Miss Lord had to sit a Gifted And Talented Education exam, complete auditions in dance and drama and be interviewed by the school’s principal.