Support the Guardian

Available for everyone, funded by readers

Schools bring on the heat for Dance Champs

Schools bring on the heat for  Dance Champs
St.Joseph's Disco Divas (from left): Megan Aguil, 11, Eliza Middleton, 12, Delilah Bown, 12, Nika De Vera, 12, Avalin Leary, 11 and Maia Gallegos, 11.

Cool fits and funky moves - the 2024 Mid Canterbury Dance Champs were the best yet. 

The competition saw hundreds of students from years one to eight take to the stage at the Ashburton events centre earlier this week.  

Over 200 year six to eight students turned up for the senior competition on Tuesday night.

The dance champs have run for six years, since 2019, and didn’t stop for Covid, facilitator Madison Wilson said. 

“When we had Covid, we did a tour around the schools and did lessons. So the dance champs have run every year, just in different forms with all that Covid goodness.”

Wilson is a dance teacher at Life Dance Academy, and organised this year’s event with fellow teacher Anna Raukawa.

She said the champs get bigger each year, with 15 schools and 37 crews taking part in 2024.

“This year it went from being two shows to three shows, because our junior category grew so much.”

Schools pick a dance from a list of pre-recorded routines.

“They make it their own, they theme it, chuck some costumes on, and join us at the events centre.”

Wilson said the pre-made routines made life easier for the teachers and parents helping coach the students, and kept things age-appropriate.

"We're really careful about the music choices we make, and the dance moves being appropriate for the age groups.”

Groups can alter the routines to suit their vibe, as long as they keep to guidelines. 

Along with a first, second and third place, awards are given out for things like costume design and sportsmanship.

Wilson said the champs gave every student an opportunity to participate in a dance group.

“After school is really busy for some families, some parents work, or they can’t afford classes.

By doing [champs] through the schools, it means that every student can have the chance.”

She said at this stage the competition will go ahead next year, with a few improvements.

“The heart of the competition is to get every student to that stage.

We try to just bring all the schools together as one.”

By Anisha Satya