Stratford circus dancers aim to raise cash for US travel

The Dance Project directors Hayley Old and Becky Walsh with some of the performers who were part of Circus! Circus!

More than 500 people rolled up to watch a circus-inspired dance cabaret in Stratford at the weekend.

Twenty five dancers took to the Stratford War Memorial Hall stage during Circus! Circus! — a cabaret-style evening which raised money for The Dance Project on Saturday night.

Inspired by the Circus Circus Hotel in Las Vegas as well as The Greatest Showman movie, the evening featured hip hop, jazz, musical theatre, burlesque and ballet.

Stratford dance teachers Hayley Old and Becky Walsh are behind The Dance Project — a group of dancers between 11 and 25 — who have been fundraising for a trip to New York and Orlando while on a World Class Dance Tour in September.

Hayley says members of group have become like family and are looking forward to the trip of a lifetime.

"They are all incredibly talented dancers and have all been working really hard for this trip."

The Taranaki dancers will perform a set at Disneyworld and also be involved in many dance seminars and workshops during the two-week tour.

Hayley says the group had aimed to raise $50,000 for the trip and although the final amount was yet to be calculated, she was pretty sure they had hit the mark.

The money raised will help cover the dancers' costumes, uniforms, flights, insurance and food.

The Stratford Hockey Club also helped on the cabaret night as a fundraiser, serving food and drinks.

Hayley says she blown away by the support of the community.

"It has been so much hard work but it is so worth it.

"It was a great night out and everybody enjoyed the show.

"The dancers are all so awesome. Every event we have done has been a success and everybody has just been so supportive of us — we really appreciate it."