They were girls from Bundarra Central School, and arrived with the school’s dance co-ordinator, Louise McKin-non, to debut a well-rehearsed dance routine to a medley of music from Sister Act. 

The 17 students were fully dressed in familiar nuns’ habits, and seemed very demure when the music began. 

Moments later the music changed, and the girls were jiving and shimmying to rock ‘n’ roll, and moving joyously before the crowd. 

Toes were tapping and hands patting to the music through the audience. 

At the end, the crowd called for an encore, so the students performed it a second time with an even bigger round of applause.

The dance troupe is open to any student.

“It’s a great opportunity for younger kids to get involved with different school activities instead of them having to have a choice doing sport and that. If they want to dance, they can come to it,” said year-9 student, Kara Gleeson.

“And we get to go to Tamworth with Miss McKinnon,” she said smiling.

Connie Panuccio in year 5 was giggling. She said she had fun dancing. 

“It’s different to everything else,” she said.

Before Louise told the girls what the routine would be, they watched the film Sister Act and everybody said they enjoyed the movie. It was their first public performance of the routine. 

They will take the show on the road to the Tamworth Dance Festival in mid-August to share their hard work.

The festival is not a competition, but a pure celebration of dance. 

Year 7 student Makaylla Gibson said she was looking forward to the event.

“You don’t always have to win. It’s just for fun,” she said.

ONLINE: Watch ‘Nuns dance for McLean residents’ video online at www.inverelltimes.com.au