Although both Portland School and Te Horo School are new to the He Oranga Poutama Hip Hop programme, both kura have revealed more young, naturally talented dancers and are really looking forward to having Kaiwhakahaere Horrace Maunsell come in weekly to teach them hip hop dance.

Their goal at the end of the term is to get to a point where they will have produced a routine to perform for whanau and friends and then eventually compete in the new novice division at the annual Northland Regional Dance Championships held at Forum North in Whangarei on April 9. For both kura, the focus will be more about enjoying and soaking up the experience of performing on stage in front of at least 400 spectators and meeting other dancers that will travel from all over Te Taitokerau.

Portland School was first introduced to Sport Northland Kaiwhakahaere Hayden Wood who was lucky enough to go there at the end of last year as a part of the popular Kids World promotion with Regent New World and More FM “the whole school was so into the dancing portion of Kids World that I just had to go back and work with them over the rest of the term and see what they could produce” says Mr Wood. Likewise, Te Horo School had little dance experience last year when they performed at the schools Cultural Arts Festival however now are looking forward to working with Horrace and hopefully take their skills to the next level. 

Also looking to compete this year in the mega schools division at the National Dance Champs is Whangarei Girls High School who by the initial response at the schools club day looks like there is a lot of interest at the school with over 180 students signing up. Competition rules only allow a maximum of 40 and the most committed. From there, their plan will be to use the Northland Dance Champs as a dress rehearsal performance for the competition which will be two weeks later.

Te Kura Taumata o Panguru, also new to hip hop last year, have expressed interest in competing in the novice division at the competition which will see them experience the competition level for the first time which is what the novice division is all about, giving the new inexperienced crews the chance to compete without feeling overwhelmed by some of the more experienced dance crews in across Northland. “It’s all about nurturing Northlands future talent and by giving them the opportunity to compete in the novice division will give them a more positive experience “says Mr Wood.