Taking part in the Riverina Dance Festival, they were the only school from the Griffith area to audition successfully.

As one of the longest running celebrations of dance talent in the Riverina, this marks the 31^st year running, this time on the stage of the Griffith Regional Theatre.

The 2019 Riverina Dance Festival featured the final 22 performances, specifically chosen from a competitive YouTube audition process.

More than 350 dancers from five elite ensembles brought together some of the best dancers from primary and secondary schools in the Albury, Griffith and Wagga Wagga areas.

Yenda Public School teacher Lisa Brown, who was the instructor for the group of 26 students, said their selection was a testament to student's dedication.

"From our school's perspective it was excellent!" Ms Brown said.

"We were the only Griffith school to get past auditions, alongside schools from Albury, Wagga and Young, so it's very competitive.

"The students performed really well, and it was a great experience for the kids to perform on stage in front of a truly great audience."

Rehearsing since February this year for their chance in the spotlight, students from Years 2 to 6 gave up a lot of their lunch times to practice and perfect their dance routines.

Principal Belinda Wallace said she was "extremely proud" of what they have achieved.

"They are passionate little performers and I am very proud," Mrs Wallace said.

Over the past 30 years, the Riverina Dance Festival has been a focus of the dedication of dance development in local public schools.

It has chronicled the evolution and development of dance and been a platform to opportunities that have seen talents extended and flourish, with some dancers from the Riverina going on to international success.

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The festival gives every dancer the chance to experience dancing on the setting of a professional setting on the stages of three of the Riverina's leading theatres in Albury, Griffith and Wagga Wagga.

Internationally successful professional dancer, Thomas Bradley first debuted on the Riverina Dance Festival stage as a student of EA Southee Public School.

He continued to make even stronger impressions as a Cootamundra High School student, where he undertook HSC Dance at Temora High.

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