Seven-year-old Layla-Maria Grubb travelled eight hours to dance for the first time in the Dubbo Eisteddfod yesterday, but a first place medal made the trip worthwhile.
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Layla-Maria was awarded the medal by adjudicator Adam Blanch in the eight years and under Modern Solo Restricted, ahead of the five other competitors in the section.
The classically-trained adjudicator from Sydney commended all the girls in the section and said it had been hard to distinguish a winner.
Layla-Maria, who danced her solo to Baby's Lullaby said she had been nervous dancing in front of the audience, but her favourite part had been holding her leg behind her in arabesque.
The young star has been dancing since she was five, and will also be performing jazz, ballet and demi-character solos in the eisteddfod.
A first place medal was also awarded to Mudgee's Jenaya Maher in the 11 and 12 years only Classical (Not pointe) Solo Restricted.
Janaya said she had been practicing her ballet performance since the beginning of the year but she was still scared when the adjudicator rang his bell to signal the start of her dance.
The win was extra special for Janaya as she missed out on a medal for the same dance in the Gulgong Eisteddfod by half a point.
Janaya narrowly missed out on a win at Gulgong in her Modern Expressive solo as well, and was hoping she could once again overcome her previous results to be awarded the winner at Dubbo.
