The third annual dance showcase “Let’s Dance!” hit the Manawa Toi Whakaari stage to a full house on October 23rd.

Our biggest showcase yet featured choreography from professional dancers, Logan Park High School students and our very own dance teacher, Ms. K (Megan Kolppanen – HOD of Dance & Drama). With over 20 different pieces of choreography from Afrofusion to Musical Theatre, to Contemporary to Hip-Hop, the performances wowed friends and whānau who were in attendance. It was especially lovely to see some dancers on the stage who are not currently taking Dance as a class, but got together with each other to perform!

Some key pieces of choreography of note were created by our own ākonga who are now moving onto bigger and better things in post-secondary life next year! Georgie Phillips’ Hip Hop piece Driving was an extension of a shorter piece she choreographed for Showquest earlier in the year. Ellan Mitchell’s piece entitled Being Myself was a homage to the peace they find within themselves when listening to their idol Billie Eilish, and Ava Brown’s choreography I Love Myself represented how being on stage has shaped who is as a person, and where she feels most at home. The Year 13s were captivating to watch, and their creativity will be missed as they move on to bigger and better things!

This year there were two guest choreographers that contributed to the showcase; Emily McLennan (Otago University Dance Intern) and Catherine Schroder (Afrofusion teacher from Dancer’s Anonymous). Emily spent just shy of 2 months with both the Senior Dance Class and Year 10 Dance Class teaching them each a piece of Musical Theatre choreography. The dancers loved learning from Emily as she is only a few years older than them, in her last year of study at Otago University in the Performing Arts Programme. Catherine Schroder came in the beginning of term 4, only the week before the showcase, and taught the senior dance class a piece of Afrofusion choreography, as well as an introduction to the culture behind the moves. It has been stated that this piece was by far a favourite amongst the dancers to perform.

The Dance Programme at Logan Park High School continues to grow and develop, getting bigger and bigger each year. We can’t wait to see how the department will grow next year, and in the years to come!