dance lessons,” Rohita says. “This
seems to be the way Hong Kong
education is wired. The boys and girls
who also do a sport alongside dance
often receive a greater understanding
of the contrasts and similarities
between athletics and the arts. This
is extremely beneficial to brain
development.”
Blaise, age 13, and Emi, age 15.
Blaise and Emi are two incredible
sisters who, between them, enjoy
golf, rugby, football and sports
fishing.
That is, when they’re not on a podium
winning Irish Dance medals. Blaise
and Emi’s mum, Karmel, must be the
source of their lust for life and endless
energy. These are two very busy
sisters. And as parents, we all know
what that means – a lot of mileage and
running around for mum.
Some of the girls’ activities are
rooted in family connections. “Emi
plays golf because both my husband
and my father and all my cousins
play golf,” says Karmel. “They are all
quite competitive about it. Emi is a
recreational golfer, but her handicap
qualifies her for tournaments in Hong
Kong. She’s played the Hong Kong
Junior Winter Open and met some
lovely young girls who are really
trying their best to make a name for
themselves in the sport. I also like how
golf is a way for my daughter to bond
with her dad, her grandfather, and
also my cousins.”
The girls also have an Irish
heritage, but this isn’t the driving
force of Emi’s involvement and
achievement in Irish dancing. “It was
the intrigue of Riverdance, which I
enjoyed watching when I was little,
that got me interested in the dance
style,” she says. “When I heard there
would be a beginners’ Irish Dance
workshop I was excited to take part.
I remember saying to my mother
after the workshop, ‘I want to do this’,
because it was very different from
the dance I had been learning (tap,
modern, ballet), which appealed to me
and gave me a challenge.”
Emi’s younger sister Blaise is also
a dancer but she takes to the field
for representative football on the
weekends. “I always enjoyed running
around with friends when I was little
and that transformed into a love of
rugby and football,” says Blaise.
Karmel proudly relates how Blaise
received a scholarship when applying
to her school. “I believe the selection
panel was impressed by her ‘all-
roundedness’, which is something I
believe in as a parent,” she says. “The
school also has a wonderful system of
awarding students for personifying
certain ‘IB learner profile’ qualities,
too, and at the last assembly she was
given the ‘Balanced’ award for her
grade. Now she knows it is important
to ‘balance’ her academics with her
outside interests.”
Savanna, age 9
Savanna is the best of both worlds,
a girly girl with an equal passion for
dance and rugby.
When asked if she ever worries about
her child choosing a non-traditional
sport like rugby, Savanna’s mum
Marion Udall is quick to correct me.
“In our house, it is traditional! This
year it has been recognised by the IOC
(International Olympic Committee).
The IOC has re-introduced rugby
after more than 90 years for the Brazil
Olympics in 2016 using a seven-a-side
format so the women’s team will be
competing on an even footing with the
men. This has also resulted in a
lot more initiatives around girls’
rugby.”
Savanna is a well-rounded
sportswoman who understands the
value of teamwork and enjoys playing
rugby. “It teaches me sportsmanship,”
she says. “It’s fun and a team sport
and I don’t want to let my team down
by not turning up.” She shares some
insight into her varied weekly activity
schedule: “I like sports. I like my dance
lessons with Miss Melissa at Future
Stars Dance Academy, gymnastics,
piano playing and football.”
Savanna is set to follow in her older
sister’s footsteps. Big sis Eleanor was
awarded an ESF scholarship for her
rugby prowess and has also played for
the Hong Kong Youth Team.
The community spirit of rugby is
alive and well in Hong Kong, which
won’t come as a surprise. We live in
Asia’s heart of rugby and the home
of the best Sevens tournament in the
world. Women’s rugby is very popular
and highly social, says Marion.
“When we moved to Discovery Bay,
the Discovery Bay Pirates were – and
still are – one of the main sporting
groups for the local community, and as
new residents it was a fantastic way of
getting to know people.”
June 2015
47
