Dancing to success
Two weekends ago Taupo¯-nuia-Tia College students danced their way to a national event.
Competing in the DanceNZ Made North Island Exchange hosted every year by Tauhara College, Taupo¯-nui-a-Tia College had two troupes, with the advanced troupe placing second and the intermediate troupe placing third. Choreography for the dances was by year 12 student Grace Bilbie and all the students competing in the dances are from year 9 or year 10.
Taupo¯-nui-a-Tia College dance teacher Iggy Gloy said their school troupe was competing against top troupe teams from local dance studios and from Palmerston North dance studios.
“To compete against troupe studios and do so well with our school team is quite phenomenal,” said Iggy.
The college’s advanced troupe also gained a Performing Arts Competitions Association New Zealand (PACANZ) nomination to compete at the national event in 2021.
Taupo¯ Academy of Dance mini troupe won first place in the elementary troupe and also gained the highest score of the junior groups. Dance Central junior team were placed second. Dance HQ soloists gained placings: Shayla-Rose Smith was third in barefoot and gained a second placing for hip-hop, contemporary and in a duo with Chanel Du Plessis. Aja Topless was third in hip-hop. Sophie Harrington was second in lyrical and third in jazz and contemporary.
Tauhara College dance teacher Jacinda Wilson said students attended the weekend workshops and if it hadn’t been for Covid-19 would have taken part in the competition. She said Tauhara College is focusing on an end of year show. Showcase will be held at the Great Lake Centre on November 26, at 7pm. Tickets cost $10 from the Tauhara College office.