Stage Challenge’s curtain call
The shock scraping of the popular Stage Challenge will leave a dramatic gap in the lives of student performers.
The Stage Challenge Foundation has contacted schools and sponsors throughout the country to say the annual high school competition was no longer financially viable.
The dance competition celebrated its 25th year in 2017 and organisers estimate more than 500,000 students have taken part.
J Rock, for years 7 to 12 pupils, was run in partnership with Stage Challenge, and has been cut too.
Waiopehu College principal Mark Robinson said the competition would be missed, but it was likely the Levin community would work together to create a local replacement.
‘‘We’ve got a long and proud history of participating. We were the regional winners in 2017.
‘‘It’s going to be a huge loss for us, not to be able to participate, and it’s going to be hugely disappointing for the students. They love it.’’
Stage Challenge is largely student-led, from concept and choreography, right through to organising the rehearsals, he said.
This generates a strong sense of pride, and develops their commitment, communication and creativity.
‘‘They put their whole life and soul into the performance. It’s a good six to eight months worth of solid work and rehearsals. The buzz is in the achievement of what they’ve accomplished. It’s such a huge thing to do.’’
Both Levin high schools, Waiopehu College and Horowhenua College, are strong participants, bringing the student body together each year, Robinson said.
‘‘We’ll have to turn to something else to fill the void, whether it’s a school production or something else.
‘‘We’ll meet with Horowhenua [College] principal Grant Congdon and we will put our heads together to see if we can do something for the local community to replace the Stage Challenge. We’ll make sure that the kids don’t miss out on that creative opportunity.’’
Stage Challenge veteran and Horowhenua College alumni Kristy Tarrant, 20, said she was shocked to hear the annual competition was cancelled.
In 2015, she co-choreographed the school’s performance Dead Wrong, which won the national award for best concept for its exploration of the death penalty.
‘‘Doing it really pulled people out of their comfort zone. We convinced a lot of the boys to do it and they absolutely loved it.
‘‘I think it makes you realise you can do a lot more than you might think. For people to take part and learn to dance is a big step. It makes them a bit more confident and it brings the school closer together as well.’’
Tarrant still keeps in touch with many of the people she worked with for the performance.
‘‘My younger sister is due to go to college next year and was really looking forward to getting involved, and now she’s really gutted. I know Horowhenua College had already been planning for their show for this year.
‘‘I think it’s really disappointing. Stage Challenge is such an exciting thing for people in school to do.’’
In a letter to participating schools, foundation chairman Lester Taylor said: ‘‘The income generated from sponsorship and ticket sales in 2018 will be insufficient to produce the events to a high standard.’’
The organiser relied on corporate and Government sponsorship each year, as well as ticket sales and entry fees.
‘‘Major costs of production include venue hire and the associated costs of providing staging, lighting and sound. The current economic conditions are making it difficult for the corporate sector to sponsor charitable events.’’