Circus group to entertain

The Dust Palace performing in Rotorua. Photo / Stephen Parker

An action-packed night is promised at this year's Hastings Pak'nSave Edible Fashion Awards with Auckland-based circus theatre company The Dust Palace announced as entertainment.

Combining amazing agility and strength with stunning choreography, The Dust Palace will present three performances at the Evening Extravaganza on Saturday, June 11 at Showgrounds Hawke's Bay.

Event manager Odette Bowyer said securing the group as entertainment was a huge coup.

"The Dust Palace are the perfect accompaniment to the fantastical creations which will be modelled on the stage - it's going to be an incredible night," she said.

Co-director of The Dust Palace, Eve Gordon, said the troupe was delighted to be supporting the Hastings Pak'nSave Edible Fashion Awards. "We think it's massively important to always support the community around us ... none of us have any money to give to charity so this is what we can give - our art, our skills and our entertainment."

The company also sees the awards as aligning well with their own philosophy of giving a hand up to talented individuals. "We love these community shows where everyone is encouraged to give it a go - it's the ethos we began our Auckland based circus school and scholarship programme with," Ms Gordon said.

The Dust Palace formed a special affinity with Hawke's Bay when their first professional theatre show was staged at the Hawke's Bay Opera House in 2010. While they have returned to perform in the Bay on several subsequent occasions, their last performance was four years ago.

Ms Bowyer said the ongoing support for the awards from the entertainment industry as well as business and community organisations proves the enduring popularity of the event.

"The high level of support we receive year after year is testament to what a great event this is for Hawke's Bay," she said.

At the heart of the Hastings Pak'nSave Edible Fashion awards is local sponsorship which this year has enabled the organisers to waive the entry fee. Many of the sponsors have had a long association with the awards, including naming sponsor Hastings Pak'nSave who have been supporting the event since its inception. The awards are now into their 11th year.

Hastings Pak'nSave Edible Fashion Awards:

* Saturday, June 11, 6.30pm.

* Hawke's Bay Showgrounds, Kenilworth Rd, Hastings.

* Hawke's For more information, visit: ediblefashionawards.co.nz.