12-year-old suffers nervous attack before dancing her way to the top in competition

Xx: Greenapple Ballet Academy principal Grace Chew (left) instructing her student Angelique Atienza Thum (right), 12, on a dance pose at her academy in Penang on Monday (Dec 16). Angelique won the junior division trophy from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Malaysian Modern Theatre Dance Awards 2013 in November.

PENANG-born Angelique Atienza Thum is usually nervous appearing on stage but once she starts dancing, her shyness fades away and her passion shines through.

It was this natural talent and passion for dancing that enabled 12-year-old Angelique to beat 11 other dancers and win the junior division of the first-ever Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Malaysian Modern Theatre Dance Awards 2013 in November in Kuala Lumpur.