From ballet to hip hop: Gisborne dancers showcase diverse styles

Hayley Upston shows her flexibility as she performs in the barefoot dance section of the Gisborne Ballet Group competitions last weekend. Photo / Michaela Joy

From pirouettes to funky hip hop moves, dancers got to showcase the results of their hard work at Gisborne Ballet Group’s annual competitions last weekend.

Talented dancers took the stage at the War Memorial Theatre hoping to impress the judge by demonstrating a combination of technical prowess and personality.

The Gisborne Ballet Group (GBG) weekend began its 70th year of competitions with an acknowledgement to former committee member, Pam Brown, who died last week.

“The committee asked that everyone simply dance from their heart to celebrate Pam’s life,” GBG co-vice-president Heidi Rice said.

The GBG competitions are unique in that they are for local dancers only.

Dance teacher Alisha Gabrielsen was flown in from the Kāpiti Coast to adjudicate.

“We want to provide a platform for local dancers [tap, ballet, modern, musical theatre, hip hop] to dress up and celebrate everything they’ve learnt, and performing on stage is the absolute the icing on the cake,” Rice said.

The competitions were broken down into sections - tap, classical ballet, contemporary, barefoot and pointe, musical theatre and lyrical, as well as demi character, jazz and hip hop.

Patron Diane Logan donates an annual scholarship, selected by the adjudicator, with money going to further the dancer’s training.

This year’s scholarship went to Miere Christiansen-White.

Rice said it was great to see an increasing number of boys performing and giving the female competitors a run for their money.

“They offer a refreshing splash of strength and masculinity to all the genres,” she said.

A full list of results is on the Gisborne Ballet Group Facebook page.

Ella Saunders performs ballet in the neo-classical section at the Gisborne Ballet Group competitions last weekend. Photo / Michaela Joy

Evie Starck gets low to the ground in her routine in the hip hop section. Photo / Michaela Joy

Porshia Gooch shows poise and grace in the waltz tap section. Photo / Michaela Joy

Poppy Harford brings plenty of personality to her performance in the musical theatre section - 13 years and under. Photo / Michaela Joy