Arts Week 2023
‘He waka kōtuia kāhore e tukutukua ngā mimira - A canoe that is interlaced will not become separated at the bow. In unity there is strength’.
Arts Week 2023 has been one of the highlights of the year! It was this event's first time that all our disciplines came together - Visual Art, Music, Drama and Dance to create one big arts extravaganza! Many people in this waka helped to make this event happen, not only in Term 3 but over the span of the year. Arts Week also fell upon Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week. As a Faculty, we wanted to acknowledge the heritage of this land, language, and culture and embody the whanaungatanga that Māori exemplify so well.
Thursday 14th and Friday 15th of September, there were two evening shows and one matinee performance for our Year 10 students. The mezzanine of Centrestage Theatre was transformed into an artistic exhibition, where audiences were able to wander through, before entering the theatre. This gallery contained multiple artworks and boards, from some of our talented Visual Arts students. Our audiences were then treated to a display of Music, Dance and Drama performances. Some of the musical items included the KingsWay School choir, the Senior Chamber group, the Jazz Band, Worship Band, and songs from our senior curriculum students. There was also a variety of spectacular Drama items, including New Zealand Theatre, Devising, and a Shakespeare item from our Year 12’s. Dance students wowed the audiences with curriculum works from the year. Some of these included Jazz, Hip-Hop and Contemporary performances, a Samoan Sasa, a Disco dance, and a 3.1 Choreography, created by Olivia Wallace.
I love what Romans 12:6 and 1 Corinthians 12 talks about in the Bible: that by God’s grace, each of us has been given different gifts and that there are many different parts of the body. These passages look specifically at different spiritual gifts. However, I think this can also apply to the many talents God gives us. Whether it was performing, ushering, MC’ing, or being on the side of the stage, there were many people in our waka this year, and I am so grateful for every person’s unique gifts. I want to thank all Arts students for their hard work, effort and consistency over 2023, as Arts Week is the product of a year’s worth of hard work, and it does not come together without lots of mahi. I also want to acknowledge the Senior Arts Teachers who have worked with these students over the year: Claire Trebilco, Mary Morgan and Belinda Mittermeier. Arts Week 2023 was a truly unforgettable experience, where students could shine for Jesus, and we are already so excited to see what 2024 will bring!
Below are some of the comments from the Senior students:
“I think a highlight this year has got to be the shows we got to put on. Arts week, for example. Arts week was filled with passion and excitement, and I'd recommend getting involved if you can!” - Joshua Low, Year 13.
“Arts Week 2023! What an amazing opportunity to have been given. I loved all the special memories everyone made together and how we connected when performing. I was very grateful to perform in both dance and drama and experience performing on a professional stage with a sold-out audience. Can't wait for next year!” - Charlotte Pederson, Year 11.
“Arts Week 2023 has been such a fun and growing experience. In the past, it's been great to see the different subjects in the arts department perform with their separate nights in arts week, but to see one big show with all the subjects joined together has been amazing, to say the least. This mixing allowed me to grow my relationships with fellow arts faculty students whom I otherwise may not have had the opportunity to interact with, further growing our school community in such a positive and life-giving way. Arts week 2023 was one for the books.” - David Howie, Year 12.
“Arts week is an amazing time where all students in arts come together as a team to put on my favourite part of the year! Not only is it a fantastic privilege to be a part of, but it is also a blessing to glorify God by using our talents and passions. It creates unforgettable memories and bonds with peers, and most importantly, it gives us so much joy! You don’t want to miss out!” - Amelia Hines, Year 12.
“Arts week this year was super exciting as it was the first arts week done at Centerstage Theatre. The love throughout the arts department, teachers and students, is like no other. Getting to see other older students using their God-given talents was also definitely a highlight. It allowed me to see what I could become if I put in the work. I feel so grateful to have had an experience like arts week and to be part of the arts whanau!” - Eva Vassiliou, Year 10.
