Head start for Northland schools competing in Stage Challenge replacement Showquest

Teale Vint and Jayden Rudolph have been credited as being the reason Northland schools competing in Showquest have a head start. Photo/Tania Whyte

Quick action from Whangārei dancers means Northland is a step ahead of other regions competing in Stage Challenge's replacement.

Showquest, which is being organised by Rockquest Promotions, is the performing arts event which will replace Stage Challenge after it was canned because of an increase in costs relative to revenue from sponsorships, grants, participation fees and ticket sales.

But before the Government announced in April it had given Rockquest Promotions a $800,000 grant to organise a replacement event, Whangārei friends and dancers Jayden Rudolph and Teale Vint had already started organising Art in Motion to fill the gap left by Stage Challenge being cancelled.

Because of this Northland had a head start, said Showquest event director Matt Ealand.

"We had approached the Art in Motion guys and came to an agreement to utilise what they had already put in place - dates and school bookings - and us bringing in our infrastructure to give it the wow effect of it being a nationwide event.

"Jayden and Teale jumped in really quickly so while (Northland) schools haven't had as much time as they normally would, they've had a lot of time the rest of the country haven't had, so they are ahead of the game in that regard which is great for the Northland area," he said.

Ealand said Rudolph and Vint were still involved in organising the event and they had done and incredible job getting five schools on board so far.

"They have unbelievable drive at such a young age. To get out there and achieve what they have is quite phenomenal really, and I take my hat off to them. Not everyone in the country has had this opportunity," he said.

Ealand said the event will be brought into the 21st century with technology, encouraging students to build digital content that will come to life on 6m wide and 3m high LED screens. They are also introducing original music.

He said while the funding was for one year, Rockquest Promotions would love to organise it again.

"We see it fits really well with what we do...It's all about embracing young people's creativity. We have infrastructure, we have ability, we have capacity to make it happen," he said.

Showquest is being held at Whangārei's Forum North on June 20. To register visit showquest.nz/northland

All the events will be live-streamed over the internet.