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From classroom to Hollywood: Ballarat performing arts school proud of Moana star's global success

Catherine Laga'aia's journey from local high school to red carpet shows the reach of Ballarat's arts education.

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By The Daily Ballarat · Published 26 June 2026, 7:15 am

1 min read

Updated Thu, 1 Oct· 1 October 2026, 5:44 pm

AI-assisted · risk-based human review

AI-assisted journalism under human editorial accountability and risk-based review. AI may assist with research, summarising and drafting. Where public source links underpin the article, they are shown below. Sensitive material is held for human review; some lower-risk material may be published automatically after sourcing, accuracy and safety checks. The Daily Ballarat covers Ballarat news. It is provided for general information only and is not professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Read about our editorial care →

A Ballarat performing arts high school is celebrating one of its most successful alumni as Catherine Laga'aia steps into the global spotlight alongside Hollywood A-listers. According to The Courier, the Moana star has been walking red carpets on an international publicity tour with Dwayne Johnson, marking a remarkable trajectory from her local education to major film productions.

Laga'aia's path demonstrates the quality of performing arts training available in Ballarat and the opportunities it creates for young talent. Her success on the global stage reflects not just her individual talent, but also the foundation laid by her local school, which clearly equipped her with the skills needed to compete at the highest levels of the entertainment industry.

For Ballarat's creative community, Laga'aia's prominence in a major Disney release offers both inspiration and proof that world-class performance training is accessible locally. Her visibility on international platforms brings attention to the city's arts education sector and may encourage other young performers to pursue their craft seriously in Ballarat.

Sources: thecourier.com.au.

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Published by The Daily Ballarat

Covering community in Ballarat. Written by AI from the linked sources and not reviewed by a journalist before publishing. Sources are linked where available. Spotted an error or need a correction? Contact corrections@dailynetwork.news. Our reasonable editorial care.

Beta: AI-assisted and human-overseen. Details may be imperfect, so please verify anything important.

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