Nickolas Varvaris (Barton, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to thank Kogarah High School in my electorate of Barton for hosting the Shunde Golden Phoenix Little Art Troupe in their school on Tuesday last week. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to the school principal, Mrs Virginia Pacey, the head of the creative and performing arts, Ms Leah McKeown, and the head teacher of Kogarah Intensive English Centre, Mrs Maria Moschatos, for working with my office to help coordinate this very successful event. The performance was a chance for both students and dancers to engage and allow for insight into local cultures.

The Shunde Golden Phoenix Art Troupe is a renowned dance and performance group from Shunde, in China's south. Over 600 children, all of whom are of school age, try out for a spot in this elite performance group, and only 14 are accepted. In between juggling the demands of an academic education, these little dancers rehearse for several hours each week to perform in China and abroad. Their talent and unique approach to traditional Chinese folk dance, along with modern twists, has seen them visit countless international destinations as official representatives of China from the Chinese Ministry of Culture.

I would like to commend the outstanding reception they received from the students of Kogarah High and the teachers, who worked hard to ensure the event was a success. Thank you again to the teachers and students of Kogarah High, who made the Shunde Golden Phoenix Art Troupe feel so welcome. It was truly a fantastic event.