Students shine at mother of all birthday bashes
The party was on at Wellington’s Te Whaea as the dance and drama centre recently celebrated its 20th birthday.
This year, Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre, home to both Toi Whakaari and the New Zealand School of Dance, reached two decades of its doors being open to the public.
Toi Whakaari students put together a birthday bash earlier this month at the dance and drama centre, featuring performances, dances and exhibitions of costumes from students of both schools.
‘‘We consider it a really successful event,’’ Te Whaea general manager Adelle Kenny said. ‘‘One of the really special things about it is that it was a collaboration with Toi Whakaari management students.’’
As part of their course requirements, the students had to put on an event and the 20th anniversary celebration was a great opportunity for them.
As well as a planned classical dance show, there were four pop-up performances, adding flair to the evening. ‘‘In the middle of the corridor the crowd moved back and ‘boom’, this contemporary dance started.’’
Kenny said about 30 dance students came down the corridor, through the crowd, and
up to the stage at the centre. ‘‘It was amazing, all the guests parted like the sea.’’ Toi Whakaari’s first intake of students for a prop and set design course was able to showcase their work, which included a full-size Dalek, a monster featured on the British TV show Doctor Who.
Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy appeared at the celebrations too – 20 years ago one of her predecessors, governorgeneral Sir Paul Reeves, officially opened Te Whaea.
Te Whaea, which translates to The Mother, found a home in Hutchison Rd, Newtown, in 1998. Every year, more than 60 community groups make use of the centre.
The site was originally set up as showgrounds in 1927, before being used as an army barracks in World War II.
Te Whaea chairman Peter Dow said there were many Wellingtonians who would remember coming to the site for the Winter Shows, which were held annually for 50 years. ‘‘Every Wellington child from that time can remember the excitement of the ferris wheel, the side shows, the ghost train and the dodgems.’’