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Conference 2007 Overview Havelock North 21-23 September 2007
Conference 2007 started off with a fabulous evening of dancing and fine entertainment on Friday at the Hastings Opera House. Solo Seal candidate Olivia Sands from Taranaki performed four dances: Double Time Jig, Fling, Sword & Sailors. Items were presented by students of all the dance teachers in the region to provide a break between Solo Seal dances for Olivia. It also gave the audience a glimpse of the high standard of choreographies often presented at various concerts and outings in the Hawkes Bay and surrounding regions. This year a new format was trialed for the weekend which saw the Dance Development Course being run on the Saturday, and the AGM held on the Sunday. The Saturday workshops and classes run by Technical members and other invited guests were extremely informative and very interactive which made for an active and energetic time for most! The particular items covered were: Warm up session specific technical points/issues noted presented by various Technical members, Irish Arms, Medal Test demonstrations by Sarah Chapman, Kelsey Mortenson & Shelley Reid, Elevation, Choreography, Physiotherapy, Massage, Getting Started upgrade, Judges upskilling - report writing. The evening celebrations commenced with the presentation of diplomas and bars, special presentation of three life memberships (rs Joan Osborne, Mrs Enid Weir and Mrs Beckie Rout), and Cutting of the official Conference cake by Mr Horace Brown. A lovely dinner and great entertainment by a celtic rock band ensured that guests and partners had an entertaining and enjoyable evening. Sunday morning 7.30am session was allocated for the Youth Forum - and surprisingly, given the hour of the morning, over 50 young members attended. Many requests/queries and issues were raised by the younger members that were bought to the main meeting held later in the day. Diploma and other photos can be viewed by visiting the Photographers website. The AGM commenced shortly after 9.30. The Balmoral Club warmly invited members to attend the 2008 conference being held in Christchurch, 19-21st September. Further details will be published as they come to hand.
Annual Conference 2007 Havelock North is the venue for the upcoming New Zealand Academy's 2007 Conference - the hosts being the Hawkes Bay Teachers and Judges Club. The weekend for the Conference is 21 September - 23 September 2007. The Conference and AGM is to be held at the Havelock North Community Centre, 30 Te Mata Road, Havelock North. The Dance Development Course, which this year is to be held on the Saturday (AGM on Sunday), will take place within the same complex with another venue within walking distance of the Centre The Solo Seal Examination will be held on Friday night at the Hawkes Bay Opera House, Hastings Street, South Hastings with a free bus from the Havelock North area (See Registration Form). A suggestion from the organisers is that if members will be travelling early and have free time on Friday that they visit the Hawkes Bay Tourism website for information on events and places - www.hawkesbaynz.com It will be a wonderful weekend with very interesting Workshops and Guest Speakers/ Experts and again an opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues and sample the treasures of the Hawkes Bay region! Things to do in the Hawkes Bay: Members can do either 1) Spanish Mission Walk or 2) Quake Tour. Group booking rate offered for 10 or more people. Normally $10 pp and this will be reduced. Interested Ph Natalie 8769093 to book. Any queries - feel free to email Kerren Withington MOTELS FOR CONFERENCE: Te Mata Lodge, Havelock North Village Motel, Havelock North Motor Lodge. Are all approximately 3 minutes walk from the Conference venue. Conference 2006 Overview 60th Jubilee - Dunedin 22-24 September 2006 Solo Seal was held on Friday evening at the Mayfair Theatre. A Double Decker bus picked up conference delegates from around the city to take them to the venue a little out of the central city. The 3 examiners were Mesdames Susan Edwards, Jacqueline Jones, and Cushla Piesse. There were 4 candidates this year: Debbie Wilson (Dunedin), Jessica Shepherd (Timaru), Anna Millar (Havelock) and Shelley Reid (Hastings). With the relatively new structure of Solo Seal the girls were able to choose which 4 dances they wanted to perform (2 must be Highland Solo) and they are also able to choose which order they wish to perform them. This made for a lovely evening of variation for the audience. Each dancer was treated to fabulous pipe music played by Neil Baxter of Christchurch. The audience was also treated to some additional entertainment between sessions of the Dunedin Harmony Chorus of Sweet Adelines International and Tap Dancer Catherine Hancox. We are pleased to announce that this year Miss Shelley Reid of Hastings was successful in attaining the required standard to pass all 4 dances to achieve Solo Seal - Congratulations Shelley. Her chosen dances this year were the Seann Truibhas, Double Time Irish Jig, Irish Hornpipe and Highland Fling.
The AGM then commenced after morning tea at 9.30am. All the usual business and processes were attended to throughout the morning. Congratulations must go to Annetta Cowie (Right on photo) who was voted the new Academy President, and to Jackie McBride who was voted the new Southern Representative on the Academy Executive - a position in which she in fact replaces her mother! Thanks must go to Mrs Beckie Rout (left on photo) and Mrs Enid Weir for their years of service to the Academy as President and Executive member. The Dance Development course commenced on the Saturday afternoon with a Judges upskilling course and going over the Addendums to the Grade examinations.
Dance Development Course 2006
The first compulsory workshop focused on Developing and Optimising Elevation. This was constructed by Dr Alan Walmsley, a Massey University Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics, and presented and demonstrated by Mrs Sherilyn Hall and Shelley Reid. There were many practical aids and special exercises focusing on specific areas to greatly improve power, strength and overall elevation. Optional workshops carried over the rest of the day included: Starting on the Right Foot - Teaching Under 5's, Nutrition - Healthy Eating and Eating for Performance, Highland Specific Warm Ups, and Deportment & Poise - Progression through the Grades. These were all extremely well received.
The final workshop of the day was focusing on Developing Total Performance and the building blocks to reaching a dancers potential. This was an opportunity for members to again take the floor to physically participate. Focus was on perfecting the basic technique and foundation movements of each dance and members were lucky enough to be split into small groups with guidance from a Technical member for the various movements. The afternoon concluded with a presentation of a special dance choreographed by Mrs Jeanie Paton QSM. The Isle of Iona was demonstrated by Jeanie and Katie Hobbs. Dance Development Course handouts are available from the Academy Secretary. Price TBC. Again another great gathering of the Academy members for 2006. 2007 we all look forward to meeting in Havelock North for the Annual Conference and Dance development course. Photos are available to view and order on the Seen in Dunedin website private events section. You can go straight to their following this link; Seen in Dunedin From there you will see a link to the NZAHND 60th Jubilee pages with instructions for ordering and photos for viewing. This is in a secure, password protected area and you will need to enter the following username and password when prompted; Username: nzahnd Password: dunedin (Make sure you enter in lower case.) Order forms etc are all available with the instructions. DIPLOMA RECIPIENTS HONOURS IN ALL GRADES
20 year bars
30 year bars
40year bars
50 year bars
SERVICE AWARDS
Life Membership
Honorary Life Membership
Conference 2005 overview Friday 23rd September - Solo Seal Proceedings commenced on Friday evening with a bus departing from the Conference Venue at 6pm in Lower Hutt, taking conference delegates to the venue to view the Solo Seal performance examination at Expressions Arts & Entertainment complex in Upper Hutt.
Saturday 24th September - AGM
The Dance Development Workshop also commenced on Saturday afternoon with a session on exercises for strengthening and rehabilitation of injuries related to Highland Dancing. This was presented by Katie Low, Exercise Therapist (and Highland Dancer). This was a very interesting practical session showing how to manage the most common Highland Dance injuries by strapping and massage, and how to strengthen to repair such injuries. A pre dinner cocktail session kicked off the Saturday social evening. At 7pm the Diploma and Service Bar recipients were led in by Official Piper Stephen Allison. It was an honour to have the NZ Academy Patron Mrs Jeanie Paton presenting these awards for 2005 to each recipient. The awards are listed below: DIPLOMAS - Honours in all Grades
DIPLOMAS
SOLO SEAL 2004
20 YEAR MEMBERSHIP BARS
30 YEAR MEMBERSHIP BARS
40 YEAR MEMBERSHIP BARS
50 YEAR MEMBERSHIP BARS
ACADEMY SERVICE AWARD
A beautiful dinner followed the official part of the evening and local Celtic Folk band Steamin entertained the crowd of dancers and their partners for the rest of the evening.
Warm up session at 8.30am - conducted by Technical member Mrs Janet Allison
- a Highland Specific warm up for 3 tracks followed by two aerobic tracks
presented by Aerobics Instructor Mr Glenn Miller. Estimated on the studio floor for the entire session was at least 50 - of all ages!
The Dance Development Course for 2005 was made up of the following:
The final session was a presentation of old Irish Dance steps, Highland Examination amendments and a demonstration of the Broadsword that had been performed at the Virginia US Tattoo.
Conference 2006 will be held in Dunedin which coincides with the NZ Academy 60th Jubliee. Photos are still available for the following: Youth Forum, Full group, each Centre, every Diploma and Service Bar recipient - please click here to make inquiries or check below for some image samples. Click here to view 2004 Annual Conference photos.
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© 2002-2006, New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing (Inc) |
All
the young student members and members 30 years and under had an extremely
early start Saturday morning to participate in the Youth Forum at 8am.
This is a forum which enables the young and actively competing members
of the Academy put forward ideas, ask questions and advice in an informal
atmosphere without feeling nervous to stand up at the AGM in front of
the rest of the Academy members. The new Youth Representative is Shelley
Reid of Hastings and she is the spokesperson for the group. Shelley reported
back all the items discussed to the main quorum of Academy members at
the AGM. She will also have the opportunity to attend Academy Executive
meetings throughout the year to discuss other matters bought up by the
Youth of the Academy.
The
Dunedin Railway Station was to be the venue for the evening function.
The Diplomas (see photo below), Service Bars and Life Membership awards
were presented to recipients along with the Cutting of the 60th Jubilee
Cake. Fine music, a guest appearance by Piper Stuart Easton, and dancing
continued for the rest of the evening. 
Firstly
commenced with a short but physical warm up session by Janet Allison.
The floor was packed with eager members both young and old. It certainly
got the blood flowing and everyone focused for what the rest of the day
held. 
Several
Medal Test Dances were presented by Kimberly Burnside (See below) and
Anna Millar just before lunch with First of August and Blue Bonnets. 
Examiners
were Mrs Cushla Piesse, Mrs Sue Gill, and Mrs Susan Edwards and Official
Piper for the evening Mr Peter Menzies. Shelley Reid from Hastings was
the candidate performing this year. In between several entertainment items
Shelley performed 4 dances commencing with the Single Time Irish Jig,
Sean Truibhas, Sword dance and finishing with the Highland Fling. 
It
was an early start for the young members with a Youth Forum held at 8.30am
for those under 30 years of age. Presentations were made by representatives
from the 3 different touring dance teams who went to Edinburgh, Virginia,
and Nova Scotia. Other items were discussed along with feedback and suggestions
from the young members that may improve the process of competitions and
examinations and the session also assists with young members understand
how the Academy actually functions. 
The
AGM commenced at 10.30am and went through until around 3.30pm. Over 100
delegates attended from across the country and every Centre was well represented.
Sunday
25th September - Dance Development Course 
