Dannevirke: Dancing pure joy for students

Morgan Kernaghan (left), Georgia Gibbs, Alex Kernaghan and Hannah Peters perform one of their numbers for the end-of-year production. Photo / Christine McKay

Staging a major dance production can cause plenty of headaches, but the joy on young dancers' faces makes it all worthwhile, Melissa Martin says.

All 110 pupils of the Melissa Martin Academy of Dance will take part in the Stage to Stage show, with the focus on a wide range of musicals from the West End to Broadway.

"As well as my pupils, we'll have some special additional guests and the show promises to be a high energy production, with some dramatic props," Miss Martin said.

The show will include songs such as Singing in the Rain, Thriller and Shrek and Miss Martin said there should be something for everyone, whether they were musical fans or not.

"This is the show I've been wanting to do for seven years," she said.

"It's cool. But I couldn't have produced it without the help of three important people. In fact, without them there wouldn't be a show as surgery has meant I've been unable to dance for months. I'm grateful for the help I've received and the children should be too.

"This is an eclectic show, with the music I love, so I'm sure others will love it too."

Also playing a vital role in the production is a 3.6 metre prop, the Emerald City, crafted by Miss Martin's father, Russell Kernaghan. "It's fantastic, but I don't think he realised what a big job it would be," she said.

-Stage to Stage opens this Friday in the Dannevirke Town Hall at 7pm. There are also two performances on Saturday, November 29 at 2pm and 7pm. Bookings can be made at Whiplash Surf and Sportswear on High St.