Congratulations to Year 13 students Alysha and Grace Gill who received a Ministry of Education Gifted Learner award for Dance.

Earlier this year when the Ministry of Education announced an increase in the range of opportunities for gifted learners to experience success and wellbeing, Alysha and Grace saw this as an opportunity to provide them with the necessary support to build on their strengths and abilities in Dance.

Both girls have actively contributed to the curricular and co-curricular life of Dance here at Tauranga Girls' College since Year 9, excelling in the NCEA Dance programme as well as serving as leaders, choreographers and dancers for our school dance troupes. Their involvement in Dance also spans beyond the school gates to the wider Tauranga community and nationally.

"This award will provide us with a platform to do and experience what we love and bring this back to share with our own dance communities. We also can't wait to develop friendships with likeminded dancers from across New Zealand" (Alysha and Grace Gill)

This award will provide them with financial support of $3000 to enable them to attend a number of national Dance events which attract dancers from across New Zealand in a wide range of modern dance styles as well as receive feedback from national and international acclaimed artists.

"These are outstanding girls who deserve every opportunity for something to be given to them when they are so often the ones giving of themselves" (Leigh Summerville, support referee).

Further information on this award can be found at this link.