And it has finally paid off with her taking out first place in the recent Riverina Dance Challenge, which attracted about 300 competitors from Melbourne to Sydney.

She danced circles around the 20 other competitors in her category.

Albury-Wodonga Dance Centre teacher Bronwyn Robertson said Chelsea’s achievements were remarkable because she had only been competing for a year.

“She’s showing a lot of potential,” Ms Robertson said.

Chelsea, 14, also won two first places and a third at another competition in Wodonga in September.

“It’s astonishing to think I’ve done it in so little time,” she said.

“People I was competing against were more advanced and had been dancing for years.”

Chelsea put her success down to the support and encouragement she received from her teachers.

“Bronwyn and Glen (Strauss) have helped me thrive,” she said.

Chelsea has now finished competing for the year and is looking towards her next challenge in March.