Belgium Tattoo Blog - Day 7
Today was our first full day in Paris which started off with a yummy Paris buffet breakfast which set us off for a busy day of activities to explore!
We had booked tickets for a 3 hour tour in a mini bus, which showed us some iconic spots in Paris to visit as well as walking through the gardens and trying the best macarons. At the end of the tour we finished at the Eiffel Tower which we had booked tickets to go up and see the beautiful view from the summit!
We then got back to our motel and had a quick turn around to get ready for dinner which we had booked tickets to go around on a cruise on the seine river. We then finished off the day with group pictures in front of the sparkly Eiffel Tower.
- Lily and Sophie
Belgium Tattoo - Day 4
Today kicked off with a well-earned sleep-in as we geared up for our first show day!
We arrived at the arena around lunchtime and jumped straight into our first performance — it was over in a flash!
After the show, we had some well-deserved downtime. Some of the girls got to catch up with family over an early dinner before they joined the audience in our next show! It’s lovely to have our kiwi supporters here!
We then joined the kapa haka group for a pre-show, lively, (and mandatory!) jump jam session.
Before we knew it, it was time for show number two. We’re all buzzing and can’t wait for our final show tomorrow!
- Kaitlin and Neryda
Belgium Tattoo - Day 5
ast show today! It felt very bittersweet doing all the dances for the last time, but we are all looking forward to Paris tomorrow!
After the finale of our last show, we took some photos with other groups, quickly had some dinner at the arena, then headed off for an evening at Brugge.
At Brugge, we looked around different shops and most had awesome waffles! Finished up time at Brugge by celebrating with some of the pipers from the tattoo!
We all came back to the hotel a tad exhausted but excited for the rest of the trip!
- Crystal + Eva
Belgium Tattoo Blog - Day 6
Today we said our farewells to our home for the past few days in Oostende, Belgium and started our journey en route to Paris!
We took a 2 hour bus trip to Brussels, then relaxed with a sigh of relief when we made it on the train to Paris.
After lugging our belongings up and down the metro staircases, we made it to our accomodation for the rest of our trip. Once settling in, we hit the streets of Paris!
A few of us caught up with family, whilst the others started with pizza for dinner. We then made our way to the Louvre, where many photos were taken! Following this, as a group we ended our evening with 5 star gelato and crepes!
Now we are going to get a good sleep before a full day of sightseeing tomorrow!
Livvy and Chloe :)
Belgium Tattoo Blog- Day 2
After a long day of travelling and sightseeing in Amsterdam, we were treated with a sleep in which was well needed. Once we finished eating some breakfast, we made a quick trip to the supermarket. We then hopped on the bus for a big day of rehearsals.
We rehearsed our dance with Te Ahikaaroa where we began to see it all come together! We continued our rehearsals before making our way to the arena for the first time! We ate some dinner before heading outside to continue perfecting our dances. Now off to get a good nights sleep before another big day of rehearsals tomorrow!
Isla and Estelle x
Belgium Tattoo Blog - Day 3
Friday 3rd October:
A bright and early start to our day today, with breakfast at the hotel and then on the bus to the venue!
Our day of dancing began here. We started with a few runs of our Aotearoa item with the Te Ahikaaroa group, before moving onto our pipes and drums and Pure Blarney items. This was a great adventure putting our choreography to live music!
We enjoyed some lunch, ran our dances some more, indulged in dinner, learnt the finale, then got ready for the full dress rehearsal.
It’s been a long day, now resting before heading into our first shows Saturday!
Keighley & Rachel
Belgium Tattoo Blog - Day 1
We started our trip with a practice together with Te Ahikaaroa Kapa Haka group on Sunday night at STAC before meeting bright and early at Christchurch airport Monday morning.
Our first flight took us to Singapore where we spent Monday evening cooling off in the pool and getting a good nights sleep after a long flight. Tuesday, we braved the heat and humidity, visiting Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, and Chinatown before heading back to the airport for our second overnight flight to Amsterdam.
We arrived in Amsterdam on Wednesday morning where we met up with Neryda and headed into Amsterdam Centraal on the train. In much more manageable weather, we visited Anne Frank House and did a canal tour all together. We then split off into groups to explore Amsterdam a bit more. Some of us visited the Van Gogh Museum while others tried out stroop wafels and did a bit of shopping.
We finished our day back at the airport to pick up Ariana, Dani, and Mhairi, collect our luggage and jump on a bus to get to us all to Oostende for a long awaited sleep before our first rehearsals tomorrow!
Signing off,
Brooke and Olivia
Conference registrations
Reminder: Conference Registration with Reduced Fee Closes on 31st July!
Registration forms can be found on our website under Resources > Downloads.
We’ve lined up some amazing guest speakers, engaging workshop topics, and dedicated sessions for dancers. Plus, don’t miss out on the Saturday Night Function, where we’ll be acknowledging the recipients of the Diploma and Service Awards.
The conference is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow dancers, teachers, and judges while completing your upskilling.
We look forward to seeing you there!
