Best of luck to Aquinas’ award-winning contemporary dance troupe which heads to Palmerston North next week to take on the country’s best dancers.

The 11-member group of Year 9 and 10 girls qualified for the DanceNZmade Interschool Championships following their overwhelming victory at the Tauranga regionals last month. Not only did they clinch the title of Year 9/10 Division Champions but they were also named Overall Regional Champions. 

The group was also awarded Excellence in Choreography, the only one of 29 troupes from 11 Tauranga schools to be awarded the prize. The success is even more impressive given that our Aquinas dancers were up against schools with longstanding dance programmes and classes. The Aquinas troupe only started practicing together in May.

The group is comprised of: Kiana Schoeser (Yr 8), Georgia-Rose McFarlane (Yr 8), Hannah Anderson (Yr 8), Krysta Stollery (Yr 10), Paige Eastergaard (Yr 10), Alana Perrett (Yr 10), Willow Murie (Yr 9), Vivian Pham (Yr 9), Sophie Van den Borst (Yr 9), Lila Drummond (Yr 9), and Josie Stott (Yr 10).

Our talented dancers head to the national contest in Palmerston North on September 9. DanceNZmade is one of the few opportunities dancers have to represent their school.

Securing a spot at nationals doesn’t come without hard work. Most members of the group spend between 11 and 15 hours in dance classes each week.

Best of luck for nationals girls, your Aquinas whānau is behind you all the way!