Even within the restrictions placed on us this year, creativity will still find a way. As they say, “The show must go on,” and for our students in all areas of the Creative Arts they have managed to do just that, brilliantly.

Congratulations to the awesome cast and crew of Saturday Night Fever. thirteen brilliant shows and hundreds through to see the singing, dancing and acting talents of our students. Their performances received glowing reviews in the press and the admiration of peers and the larger community.

Smokefree Rock Quest 2020

Congratulations to Tayla Paul and the other band members of Sunbather. They recently took out 3rd place in the regional competition with two original songs, “Set me Free” and "You Don’t Know Me”. We’re looking forward to seeing more of Tayla’s talent in the future.

Dance

Junior / Senior Dance classes

Junior dance classes have been busy this term. The learning focus has been on developing strength, flexibility, confidence, performance skills and dance choreography. The Year 9 students have recently completed their Creative Group Dance Choreography Assessment while our Year 10 students have focused on Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop in order to expand their movement vocabulary.

Senior classes have predominantly focused on choreography both as soloists and duets. These students have choreographed memorable dance sequences that they can truly be proud of. It is that time of the year where these students start working individually on extra standards and studying for exams. 

Xecute Megacrew

Incredibly proud of all our dancers who competed over the weekend in Palmerston North at the NZ Dance Made National Competition. Our Megacrew Xecute and Heaven-Lee Apanui were both nominated for the Art of Movement Award! 

Congratulations on your hard work and dedication girls, you can be very proud of your efforts! A special mention must go to our choreographers Tapuni Mauroa, Tomairangi Paterson-Waaka, Faye Pohoiwi and Heaven-Lee Apanui. You have put together an incredible movement routine and I have enjoyed watching you grow as leaders and inspire the younger generation. We will miss you girls next year! 

Janaye Biddle-Kite - TIC Dance

Theatre

Year 12 Radio Play

Due to the uncertain times we have experienced this year, our Theatre classes have had to adapt performances. In order to continue with our Year 12 Production standard of “The Importance of Being Earnest” we have edited the play into a radio drama.

Lots of new learning around voice work and interesting times with creating sound effects. Thanks to Miss Falconer and her help in the Music Department with all the recording technologies.

Year 11 Devising

The Year 11 Theatre class have had an exceptional term creating some really thoughtful Devised work around the themes of societal expectations, pressure on teenagers, mental health issues and the strength of our own belief systems. I am very proud of their work.

Bridget Donovan

Music Department

Performance Week
Over the past couple of weeks we have been blown away by the talent that is coming out of the Music Department. The Year 10 bands have been performing for their peers, for most of them this is the first time ever!
Meanwhile the NCEA students have been working extremely hard to perform their final solo pieces and group performances to a very high standard across a range of instruments. They have been demonstrating styles and skills that would normally be outside of their comfort zone and have grown immensely from the experience. I would like to give a big shout out to my Senior Music students, some who started their journey as timid singers, uncertain of their abilities and yet these past weeks have had their audience in tears because of the way they now boldly express themselves through their craft. Congratulations to you all, you make me very proud!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our tutors Evelyn Falconer and Lee McKensie who helped prepare these students for their performances.