Competing at Cowal ‘a life changing experience’

Solai Ehrhorn flying the New Zealand flag at the Internationals at Gosford, before going to Scotland to compete this year.

​Most young dancers dream of going to Scotland to compete. A few even dream of dancing at the ultimate test of any dancer, the Cowal International Gathering for the world championships.
 
Not long back from Scotland – and Cowal, Solai Ehrhorn of the Morgan B School of Dance in Taranaki talks about the experience to Mary-Jo Tohill…
 
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Solai, 17, had been to Scotland before going over to compete this year, but had never danced at Cowal. It was a long and often painful road to get there. Battling an injury, she missed the New Zealand championships, but was recovered well enough to do the Internationals in Gosford, Australia in July before heading over to the land of pipes and haggis.
 

​“We made the decision to go in August 2022.
 
“Fitness-wise, I did a lot of cross training/pilates/core work, gym classes as well as
normal dance classes/competitions.  It was ramped up closer to leaving overseas, aiming to do a championship dance through a day and practicing in my kilt.”
 
She would recommend every dancer wear their full kilt when preparing for championships to get accustomed to the look and feel.
 
Encouraged by her results in Australia and feeling good despite the injury, Solai got to Scotland at the beginning of August. Jetlag didn’t affect her too badly, except a motion feeling when dancing. But she was fine after about a week, doing three highland games and three championships leading up to Cowal. She was the only kiwi competing on the circuit.

“It was the first time I’d danced in the wet, or on a wet stage with sawdust, and got dressed in a tent. But once I’d gone through it the first time, it was fine, I knew what to expect.”
​“It was very different to competing in New Zealand. There are more competitors which means the competition level is higher and majority of the competitions were danced outside in any weather. You have to be very prepared!”
 
That includes having a rain cape, galoshes, a roll-up practice pad and a tent – very often there was nowhere to warm up. 

​But it did take its toll on her body, and her injury did play up, requiring treatment over there.
 
“Everything was strapped up, I was in a lot of pain.”

Talk about a contrast! From the shelter of a stadium roof to an umbrella in Scotland, Solai gets her first taste of competing in Scottish conditions.

Solai Ehrhorn on her international travels while competing this year.

​However, Solai would not have missed any of it for the world, and pushed through the pain. She was grateful for the help of her teacher Morgan Bamford and the support of her family, who were over there with her, to get her through.
 
She admired the relaxed way the Scottish dancers approached competition, even the big champs, and their toughness and resilience no matter what the conditions.
 
“They’re just so casual. Cowal was just like going to another comp. It’s just another champ for them. They’re doing this all the time, so that was a big difference.” 

​They based themselves in Leith, just out of Edinburgh, hiring a car to get around.

Solai posing against the famous Cowal backdrop.

​“We booked Airbnb quite a wee while before we left NZ; it was a bit tricky to get accommodation which suited us especially apartments with a carpark. 
 
“The accommodation for Cowal in Dunoon MUST be booked as soon as you know you are attending the championships as it is hard to find accommodation there. Stirling is a beautiful place with a lot to see and do, although I was dance focused, I found that sightseeing wasn’t my priority.” 
 
Nerves were a big hurdle to overcome, and she tried different remedies to deal with them; “stress less oils, listening to music, trying not to overthink things etc, etc.”
 
Other things were more easy to adapt to – the food choices were good, reasonable in price and readily available. School work wasn’t too much of an issue as she’d given her teachers plenty of warning.
 
“I let my school know I was away for nearly six weeks and worked my Year 13 work around this, and they worked with me with what I wanted to achieve.”
 
Morgan had contacts in Scotland so Solai was able to attend private lessons and premier dance classes with her good friend, teacher Danielle Law.
 
“I really enjoyed taking part in the dance lessons and made some friends there. We also hired rooms in local community centres in Leith and the Stirling area which we googled to find and they were great.”
 
Competing in Scotland was “a life changing experience”.
 
“I had to be more resilient, adapt to different scenarios quite quickly and I made some really great connections and friendships. I definitely could not have done it all without Morgan.
 
“I unfortunately travelled with a foot injury and feel proud of myself for pushing through, competing and also achieving amazing placings and judges points at all competitions. 
 
“My greatest achievement was dancing on the Cowal stage which was a life dream – what an experience that was.
 
“It was a time of personal growth, and very challenging.
 
“I’d love to go back overseas to dance when I’m ready. It’s a little too soon at the moment.
 
“I am sorting my foot injury out and looking forward to competing in 2024. Some exciting opportunities have arisen from my travels which will soon be announced.”
 
Her advice to anyone else hoping to go over and compete:
 
“Take it all in.”

Solai and number one fan and supporter, her mum Erin.