Dannevirke: Little bit of Britain on stage

Young dancers from Dannevirke's Melissa Martin Academy of Dance soaking up the atmosphere of Napier's Marine Parade following their performance at the annual Hawke's Bay dance festival. Back from left, Hannah Peters, Ellice McDonald and Morgan Kernaghan. Middle from left, Julie Long Lay, Careesha Russell and Georgia Gibbs. Front from left, Alexandra Kernaghan, holding Imogene, Miss Martin's daughter and Piper Francis. Photo/Supplied.

Taking part in the annual Hawke's Bay dance festival along with 250 other dancers was a great experience for a group of Dannevirke girls, their dance teacher says.

This was the second year dancers from the Melissa Martin Academy of Dance performed at the festival at the Municipal Theatre in Napier.

"It's good for our dancers to be in a different environment and it's always a bonus to be able to perform on a different stage, especially one that is bigger than here in Dannevirke," teacher Melissa Martin said. "The girls had plenty of fun and while they were chatty on the drive up to Napier, it was sleep time on the drive home."

Miss Martin said a day out such as this was a good opportunity for her dancers to spend time together building relationships.

"It's those relationships which grow and show when they're on stage performing together," she said. "The piece we did in Napier is from our end-of-year show in December, A Taste of Britain."

A Taste of Britain will showcase snippets of all things British and will have something for everyone, Miss Martin said.

More than 100 Dannevirke girls, boys and dads will take part in the show, with a big team behind the scenes making sure it flows seamlessly.

"Co-ordinating it all is no mean feat and then it's a balancing act to have the show run smoothly," Miss Martin said.

A Taste of Britain opens on Friday, December 6, at the Dannevirke Town Hall, with another two shows on Saturday, December 7.