Drama queen soars for international recognition

A talented nine-year-old from Constantia Kloof has been invited to represent South Africa in Orlando Florida, USA from December to January 2015.

Mia Marais, a Fairland Primary School pupil is an avid actor and performer and that talent has catapulted her to the international stage at the biannual AMTC convention. The convention includes four categories in the arts including: dance, drama, singing or modelling. Mia, has been chosen in the drama category

“It was a lot of hard work and I didn’t usually want to practice but I love drama very much. I like to be called a drama queen,” giggles the Grade 4 pupil.

Mia is surprisingly shy for someone that competes on stage but her mother Elisma Marais says they do not put too much pressure on the little girl.

Mia started doing drama in Grade 1. “She was a very quiet child and someone suggested that we put her in drama classes and she has turned into a completely different person,” adds Elisma.

With a strong passion in performing, Mia has also taken part in the National Eisteddfod Academy this year and admits that the stress of the competition got to her at times but she certainly pulled through and gave a sterling performance.

According to Elisma, Mia is not particularly hard on herself, in fact she admits, “I am usually the one that stresses. She goes with the flow and just takes it as it comes.”

When she is not giving her all on stage, Mia says she enjoys painting, swimming and painting and according to her mother, Mia got her talent from her grandmother, who is a dramatic arts enthusiast.

Mia counts artist Leornardo Di Vinci among her favourite role models. “He invented things because he was a genius. He invented a little car that when you stand on it on the stage, it looks and moves like a boat.”

Elisma Marais, is simply proud of her daughter’s achievements and cements that the most important thing is that Mia has fun. She says they do not put too much pressure on their little drama queen.

“She doesn’t really take the stress of it to heart, I think she has the making of a good actor or drama queen as she likes to be called. We try not to put too much pressure on her, she is nine years old.”

The upcoming convention showcases talented children and teenagers from around the world and provides an opportunity to perform and spread their talent at an international platform in front of casting directors, agents, directors and network representatives.