Belle Ward and Amy Bibby on stage at the Highland dance championships. Photo / Paul Taylor
Belle Ward and Amy Bibby on stage at the Highland dance championships. Photo / Paul Taylor
Highland dancers and their entourages piled into the CHB Municipal Theatre over the weekend to compete and to catch up, as the Highland Dancing Association of Hawke’s Bay hosted the North Island of New Zealand Open Championships 2023.
Championship winner Rebecca Bushett with Miss Tutu’s School of Dance teacher Holly Keir.
After a full day of hot competition in front of Australian judges Kim Roe, Barbara McCullough and Felicity Gollan, the top accolade went to Central Hawke’s Bay dancer Rebecca Bushett, winning the North Island of New Zealand 2023 Championship Title for 14 and 15 years.
It was Rebecca’s first championship title and a special one, as it had also been won some years ago by her teacher, Holly Kier of Miss Tutu’s School of Dance.
Rebecca was also runner-up in the Julie Appleton-Seymour Memorial Award for 14 years.
CHB dancer Lilly Iremonger was fourth overall, with fellow Miss Tutu’s School of Dance student Amy Bibby sixth overall in the NINZ Championship for 14 and 15 years.
CHB’s Molly Kyle also gained a fifth placing for the Sword Dance in the NINZ Championship component - 16 years and over.
Dance teacher Holly Keir setting up the swords for the Sword Dance at the Highland dance competition in Waipawa. Photo / Paul Taylor
A tired but proud Holly Kier says “it was a privilege to host the North Island of New Zealand Open Championship and Supporting Events in Central Hawke’s Bay”.
“Thank you to everyone who supported our event, we received overwhelming support from the dance community and our local community. It was lovely to perform for a home crowd.”
