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2004 News Archive
27th Dec 04 - Merry Xmas and Happy New Year
Hope you all had a fantastic Xmas Day. All the best for a happy
New Year.
For those attending one of the three official Summer schools we
hope you enjoy the experience. Good luck also to those competing
at various Highland Games across the country on New Years Day.
23rd Dec 04 - Dance school end of year celebrations!
Gaye Reid, teacher from Hastings, held her end of year studio concert
last week where each group did several items followed by the presentation
of exam certificates by a guest clown who arrived at the beginning
of the concert. The clown proceeded to do a Fling much to the delight
of the other dancers and then joined in for some social dancing.
Three fathers did an impromptu 'Xmas Polka' still dressed in their
work clothes and heavy boots - the children couldn't believe what
was happening - especially the ones who saw their fathers performing
on stage but all joined in and clapped and gave plenty of encouragement!.
A great end to the year.
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The dancing clown!
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Dancers of the Gaye Reid School of Dance
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19th Dec 04 - Congratulations on new baby
Congratulations to Christchurch dancer Anna Reid on the recent
birth of her baby boy Casey. Although 7 weeks early Mother and Son
are said to both be doing well.
16th Dec 04 - Marlborough Dance end of year production
The Marlborough Dance Centre in Blenheim held its spectacular end
of year production with four performances from Friday 3 Dec thru
to Monday 6th Dec. This year the theme was "The Life and Hard Times
of Little Orphan Annie "
The whole studio was involved - 380 dancers! These included highland,
ballet, jazz, irish, hiphop and contemporary students.
There were 2 Annies (performing 2 shows each) - Gabby Mark and
Harriet Lintern (who are both Highland dancers) - the orphans were
Shirana Rengasamy, EllaRose Hammond, Caitlin Morris, Laura Butt,
Grace Tocker, Lucie Gibson, Lauren Marshall, Sarah Millar (also
Highland dancers). The Annies and the orphans sung as well as danced
so a vocal tutor was brought in to help with the songs.
Other Highland groups involved Preschoolers through to our returning
university students and they took parts as AristoKids, Cheese, Gingerbread,
Lucy Lockets, Yankee Doodle Dandees, Shoeshine Boys, Ice-Cream Sellers,
Spirit of Christmas, Candy Canes, Scotch on the Rocks, Snowstorm,
Lord of the Dance with several Highland dancers also playing lead
parts. Rachel Crampton took the part of Grace Farrell., and Sara
Simmons danced the lead in Lord of the Dance and on stilts in Candy
Canes (hopefully no accidents occured!)
3rd Dec 04 - Auckland - Parnell Rose Garden Festival
Thousands of visitors turned out to the Parnell Rose Gardens Annual
Festival in Auckland on the 21st November. As well as taking in
the riot of colour from the gardens 4500 roses, visitors enjoyed
music, theatre and dance.
Dancers from the Anne Payne, June Wright and Johanna Lees Dance
Schools performed several items each and then combined together
to perform a Massed Highland Fling. Click on the photo below to
see more photos from this colourful day of dancing.
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28th Nov 04 - Summer School CHCH - reminder to Teachers/Adjudicators
to enrol as observer.
13th to 17th January being held at St Andrews College.
There are currently 63 students enrolled for the Christchurch Balmoral
Club Summer School. Although entries have closed, late entries will
still be accepted.
The Summer School commences on Thursday evening 13th January for
the whole family with a sausage sizzle and the swimming pool open
from 5pm, followed by a fun aerobics class for the whole family
from 6-7pm. Everybody is welcome.
A reminder to Teachers and Adjudicators that a day as a "Teacher
Observer" at Summer School will fulfil the requirement for upskilling
their Teachers and Judges qualification. It will not be necessary
to pre-enrol. Enrolment can be on any day during the school and
certificates will be posted out following Summer School.
28th Nov 04 - Get well soon ...
A 'Get well' wish goes to Jessica Findlay, one of our young NZ
Dancers from Christchurch - she has broken both arms as a result
of an accident on the family trampoline. No doubt that trampoline
is no longer in the Findlay backyard!
25th Nov 04 - upcoming Recitals/Concerts...
It is concert season! Click
here to send through photos along with recital description and
names of dancers in photos to get them published right here.
15th Nov 04 - Kapiti Scottish Festival Dancing bonanza!
This last weekend saw a fantastic Scottish Festival held in the
Kapiti town of Paraparaumu. There were stalls of Scottish souvenirs
and food, Highland Cattle, Pipe Band and Celtic music, Scottish
Country Dancing and Irish Dancing displays. Temperatures soared
to the mid 20's (the first Summer weekend in the Wellington region)
which helped draw large crowds of people keen to find out more about
Scottish Arts and Culture.
The Strathspey Dance School and Thistlebrae Dance Academy also
joined forces to present almost 2 hours of Highland Dancing displays.
Items varied from the traditional Sean Truibhas, Irish Jig and Sailors
hornpipe items, to a presentation of several of our NZ Academy medal
test dances including the Blue Bonnets, Flora MacDonald, Melbourne
Clog and Scottish Jig. Other choreographed and less traditional
Highland items included a Broadsword, a sizzling and extremely intricate
Double Sword, and a Waltz Clog which remains to be a popular fun
dance among our junior dancers.
Click
here to check out more photos...
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The grande finale was a Massed Fling display with over 20
dancers in their varying costumes from the two Dance schools. |
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Massed Fling
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8th Nov 04 - tune into Channel 3 - A Queens Tour
NZ readers - tune in to "A Queen's Tour" this Thursday 11th November
on TV3 at 9.30pm and catch the Dunedin episode. It features Academy
member Shiobhan O'Donnell along with some of her Dancing pupils.
8th Nov 04 - Hawkes Bay Combined Dance Festival update
Saturday 7th November at the Napier Municipal Theatre - 14 dance
studios participated a variety of entertainment from Highland ,
Tap , Ballet, Modern Jazz, Contempary and featured 2 students from
NZ School of Dance in Wellington ( Adriana Harper and William Pratt).
The Highland choreographies included " Braveheart Challenge", "Thistle
O' the Brae" and "Celtic Blue Bonnets".
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The Braveheart challenge" was danced in four sections
with 12 senior dancers - three skippers. They danced like
opposing clans then Michelle and Oliver led them all off with
a tune called "we're following the piper."
Oliver finished on stage by himself, saluted and winked then
went off. He was really cute - in the music where there was
drum solos he got his hankey out and wiped his brow and talked
to Michelle who was on stage the entire item sitting on a
tartan covered chair with her basket of heather!
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Braveheart Challenge
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The 3 skippers
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Braveheart Challenge
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"Thistle O' the Brae"
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2nd Nov 04 - 2005 Auckland Summer School details
The dates for the 2005 Auckland Summer school are 10-14th January
2005. The Tutors this year are Mrs Johanna Lees, Miss June Wright
and Mrs Jacqueline Jones. For more information please contact Johanna
Lees.
1st Nov - 04 - on the look out for photos...
If you have any great dancing photos (historic or recent) we would
love to see them. Please feel free to send
these through along with description of event and dancers names
in the photo.
19th Oct 04 - Hawkes Bay Ballet and Dance Combined Dance festival
The Caladh Brae Studio in Napier (Prinicple Tutor Adele Swanson)
are in the process of choreographing items for the Hawkes Bay Ballet
and Dance Combined Dance festival being held 7th November. Most
of the dance studios in the region are invited to perform one item
each but the Highland studios have two as they love the bright rhythmical
celtic music and the vast difference in technique our Highland and
National dancing displays.
This year the festival is to be held in the Napier
Municipal Theatre. Adeles pupils love the challenge of performing
in groups doing something different away from the competitive and
examination scene. Everyone in the studio is involved including
parents who assist with the sewing.
19th Oct 04 - Congratulations - Linda Gray
Academy member, and Auditor of the Academy financial records, Linda
Gray (Palmerston North) has just been named as The NZ Young Accountant
of the year. Well done Linda - a huge honour. For more details click
here.
18th October - Hawkes Bay Junior competition
Another successful competition day was held on 16th October and
run by the Hawkes Bay Piping & Dancing Assn. It was a Junior under
14 day and there were 40 entries from Hawkes Bay and Auckland. The
Judge for the day was Raewyn Weggery from Palmerston North, and
Piper Adam Butcher from Waipukarau.
Most Points Cups:
- 6 & Under - Nicole Harvey
- Under 8yrs - Abby-Jane Taylor
- 8-10yrs - Cassandra Anderson
- 10-12yrs - Leana Atkenson
- 12-14yrs - Mekayla Gifkins
- Most Points Over Day - Leana Atkenson
8th Oct 04 - Upper Hutt Highland Gathering Sat 16th Oct
The Upper Hutt Highland Gathering is on again this year at Harcourt
Park, Upper Hutt, Saturday October the 16th and features Highland
Dancing events throughout the day, B&C grade piping, Juvenile
and Open side drumming . The City of Wellington Pipe Band will also
be playing in the main amphitheatre at lunchtime. Other events include
kids games and a Strongman competition. Come along for a fun family
day and a good dose of Scottish Music and Culture. Entry forms can
be found by clicking here.
Please contact the Secretary by clicking here.
3rd Oct 04 - Hawkes Bay Summer School details
The Hawkes Bay Summer School is again being held in January 2005,
Sunday 23rd - Tuesday 25th Jaunary. The tutors are Mrs Susan Edwards
and Mrs Kylie Allison-Miller. Entry forms will be available soon.
For further information please contact Kerren
Withington.
28th Sept 04 - CHCH Summer School details
The dates for the Christchurch Summer School are 13-17 January
2005 with the tutors being Mrs Sherilyn Hall, Mrs Pam Fleming, Mrs
Julie Appleton Seymour. Click
here for entry forms or direct any queries to Elizabeth
Smith
27th Sept 04 - Stepdance Videos price confirmation
Price for the Stepdance (Sailors and Irish) Video or DVD has been
confirmed:
$90 for one or $150 for both. Each DVD has Stage
One of both Irish and Sailors exams or Stage Two of both Irish and
Sailors exams.
For orders please send payment to:
Secretary
NZAHND
Box 5470
Palmerston North.
23rd Sept 04 - Solo Seal 2004 successful candidate
Congratulations to Sara Simmons who was successful in passing
all 4 dances in the Solo Seal examination this year.
Sara is the 18th candidate to attain this this level of
performance in all four dances at one time to ultimately
pass the prestigious Solo Seal examination.
Well done Sara!
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23rd Sept 04 - Diploma recipients 2004
Congratulations and welcome to the following young members who
are have passed their final Advanced examinations and are now qualified
to adjudicate.
Honours Diplomas
- Claire Richmond - Teacher - Denise Johnston
Diplomas:
- Jodie Adam - Teacher - Lynette Mitchell
- Christine Baker - Teacher - Annetta Cowie
- Caroline Bamber - Teacher - Megan Taylor
- Tiffany Brown - Teacher - Denise Johnston
- Tracey Chatterton - Teacher - Brian North
- Rebecca Corney - Teacher - Adele Swanson
- Joella Cullen - Teacher - Elizabeth Smith
- Alanah Inch - Teacher - Adrienne Haberfield
- Tracy Keith - Teacher - Denise Johnston
- Michael Kendrick - Teacher - Gail Dodson
- Alicia Mcaulay - Teacher - Adele Swanson
- Mia Mckenzie - Teacher - Denise Johnston
- Rachelle Murray - Teacher - Danitta Findlay
- Jessica Shepherd - Teacher - Denise Johnston
- Michelle Yeoman - Teacher - Adele Swanson
23rd Sept 04 - Service Bar recipients 2004
Congratulations to the following members who were presented with
Service Bars at Conference 2004. There were 5 presented with
50 year bars - a fantastic committment!
50 Year Bar - Krina Fitchett, Enid Weir, Beverley
Walker, Claire Reid, Madge Hornal
40 Year Bar - Jean MacNicol
30 Year Bar - Alva Warlow, Avalon Moffatt
20 Year Bar - Janine Hogg
22nd Sept 04 - Photos coming soon ...
Solo Seal 2004 Candidates with piper Neil Baxter. Click on the
photo to take you to the photos page.
21st September - 2004 Conference
Feedback has been fantastic from the Conference hosted by the Southland
Teachers & Judges last weekend. There was a great spirit and
atmosphere at the conference and the spot prizes were so well thought
out by the Committee on the Saturday night. A microphone was seen
being put to some very productive use on the dance floor - as well
as in the musically speaking workshop along with a very bright tamborine!
There were well presented workshops on Irish Reel and Reel Dancing
where many finer technical points were noted - often things we all
may have glossed over!. Also the Technical Committee presented other
development courses this year including Motivation, Musically Speaking,
Back to basics, and Irish issues. There was a fantastic response
from members on the floor taking part.
Another topic with a difference was the presentation on Bras and
providing the best support possible when performing! This produced
some interesting discussions amongst the members and some very fruitful
sales I'm sure!
Well done Southland T&J!
19th Sept 04 - 2004 Conference Photos coming soon...
Photos from the Annual Conference will soon be available to view
and order.
18th Sept 04 - how to submit news to the Academy website?
Just a reminder if you have any news or pictures that you would
like to submit to this site please email admin@nzahnd.org.nz
12 Sept 04 - Solo Seal 2004
Kimberly Burnside, Anna Millar, Sara Simmons and Debbie Wilson
will be busy this week adding the final touches to the four dances
that they will be performing in this years Solo Seal examination
- being held in Invercargill on Friday 17th September.
The official piper for this years examination is Neil Baxter from
Christchurch - also one of New Zealands well known and successful
Highland Dancers!
All the best to these four dancers as they prepare for New Zealand's
most pretigious performance Exam.
07 Sept 04 - Stepdance Videos coming soon...
Keep an eye out for the new Stepdance videos coming soon - both
grades (Stage 1 and 2) of both Irish and Sailors. They will be available
on both Video and DVD, price tba.
These were filmed in Mirimar, Wellington early in July 2004. The
Stage One exams were performed by Sarah Chapman, Lisa Dumelow, Olivia
Sands and Samuel Tait. The Stage Two exams were performed by Sara
Simmons, Anna Millar, Shelley Reid and Kylie Allison-Miller.
Filming of every excercise was overseen by Mrs Sherilyn Hall from
early Saturday morning until late Saturday evening - and repeated
on the Sunday for the Stage Two exams!
30 Aug 04 - Academy Website news page
Welcome to all dancers and supporters to this, the first of many
news updates on the official New Zealand Academy website.
The purpose of this page is to provide information of upcoming
Highland Dancing and Scottish events, updates of our New Zealand
dancers competing both here and overseas, news and information about
our members and any other interesting information that may come
about.
If you have any news or pictures that you would like to submit
to the site please email admin@nzahnd.org.nz
Good luck to all those sitting exams in September.
See you at the 2004 Annual Conference in Invercargill.
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