Big night coming up for bike fans
The Big Bike Film Night will ride into the Bay of Islands for the first time on Tuesday, with the best of short cycling films from New Zealand and around the world screening at the Copthorne Waitangi starting at 7pm.
Action, adventure, drama, humour and inspiration will all feature, stories including that of a New Zealander with a twowheel love story to share, and a documentary about a mum who runs a bicycle training programme for migrant and refugee women in Amsterdam.
The tales of character, resilience and courage also cover five friends with disabilities attempting a world first humanpowered ride from Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre to Mount Kosciuszko, in Australia, and two pioneering mountain bikers undertaking an adventure in wild and unknown landscapes, riding only horse trails, in heartland Africa.
Curator Brett Cotter said the films were a great reminder of why people love to ride bikes, with stories that would captivate the audience, make people think, and inspire them to get out and ride.
“Our event celebrates cycling in all its glorious shapes and forms. Regardless of whether you’re a cycling fan or a cinematography fan, there is something in the 2019 line up that everyone should see,” he said.
Tickets are available at Paihia Mountain Bikes, at www.bigbikefilmnight.nz, and at the door. Kerikeri’s DDF Dance studio once again made its mark on the Whanga¯rei regional dance qualifiers last month. Five crews represented the Far North, the juniors winning their section.
All five qualified for this month’s nationals in Auckland, which will lead on to the world hip hop championships in the United States.
DDF Founder and choreographer Alannah Curtis said she was delighted with the dancers’ performances, and the results.
“They all worked so hard with one vision, to do their utmost best,” she said.
The public will be able to see for themselves at the DDF Dance end of term showcase at the Turner Centre tomorrow, starting 6pm. The show, now in its fifth year, is the culmination of an eight-week workshop featuring first-time dancers through to intermediate level and advanced, who have been with DDF for several years.