Kennedy, wearing traditional costume, won the section with a beautiful dance set to Russian music.

‘‘It is pretty amazing to have actually won, I was really astonished and surprised,’’ Kennedy said.

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Folk dancing is often a small category in the eisteddfod with relatively few dancers performing in each age section.

It is often a controlled dance style and uses elements of ballet.

‘‘I love it because it is different to other styles of dance and my favourite part is all the beautiful costumes,’’ Kennedy said.

This is Kennedy’s first win at the Wollongong Eisteddfod.

‘‘Even though practising six times a week is tiring, I get rewarded with competitions and winning makes the effort worth it,’’ she said.

Performing was lots of fun because it was different to practising in the studio, she said.

Kennedy loves the atmosphere of eisteddfods, especially with her friends and parents cheering and supporting her.

‘‘As she gets older, she is becoming more independent with her dancing but I still do a lot of running around and driving,’’ her mother, Eleanor Beck, said.

‘‘It is really lovely to see her hard work pay off.’’

Kennedy’s favourite dance is contemporary but she loves how folk dancing brings an international and unique element to the eisteddfod.