Youngsters step out in style

Tennille Nisbet, 16 (left), and her sister Hunter, 11, are long-term enthusiasts of the Goodwill Tappers summer dance workshop. Photo / John Stone

Tutors from the TV show Dancing with the Stars are bringing the cha-cha, salsa and waltz to Whangarei with a week-long workshop for children and adults.

The 10th annual Goodwill Tappers summer dance workshop kicks off this month and features nine genres of dance workshops for all ages, with tutors such as Dancing with the Stars teachers Jonny and Kristie Williams.

About 60 dancers are registered for the January 19-23 workshop, which culminates in a performance at Forum North on January 23. Tutors also include Candy Lane Dance Studios choreographer and teacher Peter Kemble and hip-hop choreographer and dancer Andrew Cesan.

"We get the high calibre of tutors and it's a nice diverse range of dancing," said organiser Penny Goodwill. "It's all about the children but we've started an adults class for a bit of fun."

Returning for her ninth year at the workshop, 16-year-old Tennille Nisbet is enrolled for the hip-hop, musical theatre and showcase classes.

The Year 13 Whangarei Girls' High student said her favourite part of the workshop was the "sense of community you get from it".

"Because you know everyone there, and if you don't know them, you get to know them," she said.

"It's fun, it's something to do and it's something I enjoy."

It will be the sixth year at the workshops for her younger sister Hunter, 11, who will be attending musical theatre and hip-hop classes this year.

The girls' mother Karena Nisbet said it was a great way for them to spend a week in their summer holidays. "They learn whole dance sequences and on the Friday night they put on a performance for everybody."

The workshop starts on January 19 at the Pipeband Hall in Morningside, with the final performance at 7pm at Forum North's Bougainville Theatre.