Highland Dance Company of NZ - Germany trip day 2
After a somewhat restful sleep, Robyn and Julie quickly woke us up with an early morning rehearsal. Outside. With a European breakfast of bread, meats and cheese under our belts, we set off for lovely Koblenz for our rehearsal in the arena. After being shown to our changing rooms and watching a few items, it was our turn to tread the boards and space our steps. With a few "subtly" noted mistakes (we jest) we were hurried off the arena floor to a much anticipated lunch of roast pork or beef pattie.
Among the acts, the Netherlands' haka was definitely an interesting talking point. Although a little perturbed to begin with, we soon found out that the All Blacks are quite the sensation and any opportunity to whip out a haka is gladly taken (perhaps in our next choreography?).
Hair, make up and costuming complete, we were amped up, warmed up and ready for action. As the second act it wasn't long before we were marching out with the pipe band. Our first show went off with a bang. However, unfortunately, it also claimed our first casualty: Shirana rolled her ankle but finished the dance like a champion. She will hopefully be back dancing tomorrow.
After a long wait (and dinner) it was time for the finale, in which we brandished flaming torches followed by some artful flag-waving to rapturous applause. A long day finished, we were back in the bus to travel to Koln to our hotel, to get some much needed rest before our performance tomorrow. This is the 'big one' with an audience almost double the 2000 strong crowd we saw tonight - wish us luck!
xxx
Niamh and Danni
Highland Dance Company of NZ - Germany trip - day 1
Hallo from Germany
The Highland Dance Company of New Zealand have made it to Germany to take part in the German Musikparade 2014.
Our trip started in Christchurch on Monday where we met to rehearse our item to be performed throughout Germany. We rehearsed in the morning, and in the afternoon we met and practiced with the Nelson Celtic Pipe Band who are accompanying us on the trip. It is great to have a live band to perform with and we went out to dinner with the band to get to know each other.
We then began the long journey to Frankfurt which involved a 10 hour flight to Singapore, a 6 hour stopover and then a 13 hour flight to Frankfurt arriving at 5:30 am. Thankfully most of us managed to get a good sleep on the 2nd flight and we were pretty excited to get to Germany.
It was certainly cold, although not as bad as many of us expected, and it was also very dark with the sun not rising until about 8:00 am. We couldn't check into our hotel until after lunch so we had a team meeting at a bakery near our hotel, tasting brezels and other tasty pastry treats before navigating a bus and train to Old Frankfurt. Here lay our first challenge - public transport in an unfamiliar place with a foreign language. Thankfully, a friendly bus driver stopped in the middle of the street after noticing our bewildered faces as we realised it was his bus we needed to catch! Not only that, he then gave all of us a freebie trip! (Apparently he couldn't understand our botched German pronunciation & took pity on us).
It was actually great to be out in the fresh air and getting to know our surroundings. Many of the team checked out some of many churches and historical buildings close by while others sampled the retail offerings. With every trip we get reminded how expensive shopping is in NZ! After a few hours meandering we had our first taste of German food, with lunch at a restaurant based in the original Frankfurt police station - most were adventurous enough to try the sauerkraut. And a hearty helping of meat - schnitzel, veal sausage & pork loin rib... All in super sized portions!
On arrival back to our hotel this afternoon we were finally able to check in, then we had what will be the first of many rehearsals. Despite little sleep in the past 36 hours the team did remarkably well, especially given the only space at the hotel that we could use was the smokers room... Ugh. A few run throughs was all it took to make Julie & Robyn feel confident that we will nail our performance when we join the entire 400-strong Musikparade company tomorrow for our first rehearsal, followed by our first show tomorrow night. We can't wait!
For now, bed seems like a heavenly long-lost friend, so we will sign out & reacquaint ourselves. Bliss.
Auf weidersehen & gute nacht!
Kate & Sara
Auckland Summer School
During the 11-14th January nearly 50 students attended the 2014 Auckland Summer School.
Tutors were Mrs Jacqui Seque and Mrs Kylie Allison-Miller.
Luckily though warm, it wasn't as hot as previous years.
It was great to see familiar students back again and lots of first time attendees.
See the Gallery for class photos
Hawkes Bay Summer School
The Hawkes Bay Summer School was run over the weekend with Tutor Jacque Seque from Dunedin. Temperatures were over 30 degrees and the dancers also had to contend with an earthquake.
Scholarship winners were
Junior Under 10 class - Kali Park
Senior Under 10 class - Mckenna Parker and Renee Thompson
10 & under 14 class - Katelyn Murphy and Rosemary Yorke
14 & over class - Hannah McRae
See photo gallery for all the class photos
Southland Exam wokshop
The Southland Teachers & Judges are conducting an Exam workshop on 12/13 April in Invercargill.
Tutor Mrs Julie Hawke.
If you require further details please contact
Lynda Duncan 03 248 7809 or Jolie Hazley 03 2174437
Enrolment form is available from the Downloads page
Highland Dance Company of NZ - Germany Trip
13 members of the Highland Dance Company of NZ, Dance company director Julie Hawke and Assistant Dance company director Robyn Simmons and 2 supporters leave on Tuesday 21st January to participate in the Germany Musik Parade
They will be performing in the parades as follows:
23 January – Koblenz
24 January – Koln 7.30 p.m.
25 January – Wetzlar 3.00 p.m.
26 January – Frankfurt 3.30 p.m.
27 – 30 January – Free days in Berlin
31 January – Leipzig 7.30 p.m.
1 February Magdeburg 2.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.
2 February Oberhausen 3.30 p.m
The Executive wish them a very successful trip
A daily blog and photos will be published on the news page
Virginia Tattoo 2014
The following dancers have been selected to travel to Norfolk, Virginia to represent the NZ Academy of Highland & National Dancing in April 2014.
Dawn Anderson – Invercargill
Aine Blackman – Tauranga
Nicole Brocklehurst – Hawkes Bay
Leah Camell – Auckland
Lisa Claridge – Palmerston North
Hannah Copeland – Invercargill
Brenna Curran – Hawkes Bay
Nicola Dunnery – Tauranga
Chelsea Ellis – Ashburton
Rochelle Emmett – Hawkes Bay
Lexi Fleming – Auckland
Tessa Hiam – Auckland
Ashleigh Isaacson – Hawkes Bay
Beth Kennedy – Gisborne
Brittany Kirk – Tauranga
Eveline Levett – Invercargill
Jordan McIvor – Christchurch
Hannah McRae – Hawkes Bay
Jessica Miller – Hawkes Bay
Dayna Murrell – Hawkes Bay
Sophie Sangster – Invercargill
Mariel Schroder – Auckland
Kelsey Smith – Blenheim
Kendyll Taylor – Oamaru
Alex Vanden Brink – Palmerston North
Holly Webster – Nelson
Jessie Williams-Emmett – Hawkes Bay
Kate Woodd – Tauranga
Chaperones - Sherilyn Hall and Cushla Piesse.
Dancers leave New Zealand on April 17th and will have 2 days of rehearsals followed by 5 days of performances at the "Scope arena". There will also be performances at local schools.
Once they leave Norfolk the dancers will have 3 days in Anaheim before returning home on the 3rd of May.
A daily blog and photos will be published on the news page to keep up with what they are doing in Norfolk.
Dancers required for Virginia Tattoo trip 2014
We have 9 spaces left to fill for dancers wanting to go and dance with the Academy team at the Virginia Tattoo in April 2014.
The dates are 17 April to 03 May which is the April school holidays.
The criteria for eligibility is as follows:
Age 14 and to have passed Grade 5 Examination.
Costs are being finalised at the present time.
If there are more than 9 people interested in going a ballot will be held.
if you are interested in going with the team to Virginia please email the Academy Secretary: admin@nzahnd.org.nz by the10th November
Thanks
Raewyn
