Student-choreographed routine takes honours

Havelock North Intermediate's champion dance team are Zara Evans (left), Georgia Paterson, Amy Griffin, Charlotte Jones-Butcher, Lucy Bain and Jena Gregory.

A student-choreographed dance routine left judges breathless at the annual Asthma Foundation's Dance 4 Asthma competition.

Havelock North Intermediate outdanced 39 schools from around the country to claim the coveted top prize.

The competition aims to raise the profile of asthma to all children, and the community, in a fun and positive way.

Havelock North Intermediate teacher Jane Bassett said the school have some real dance talent who choreographed, performed and edited their entry this year.

"The dance was totally student led which is fantastic," Ms Bassett said.

The school will receive an iPad as their first prize.

Michael Gudgeon from the Java Dance company had the unenviable task of choosing winners in the intermediate category.

"Awesome work Havelock North Intermediate. A very polished, well put together dance video. You should feel very proud of yourselves. Excellent choreography and dance technique, I can see the hard work and practice that has gone into this video," he said.

"I loved the T-shirts and the balloons which incorporated the Asthma Foundation. I want to see even more of those beautiful smiles I saw in that photograph throughout the video."

The other winners on the night were Woodstock School in Hamilton for the primary category and Avondale College took out the secondary school competition.

Acting chief executive at the Asthma Foundation, Teresa Demetriou, said she was impressed by the energy and enthusiasm shown by all the children.

"We want all our kids to be confident, healthy and participating fully at school," she said.

"Asthma is responsible for 550,000 lost school days every year."

She reported that 1 in 7 children are taking medication for asthma in New Zealand.

"It is important to raise the profile of asthma to all our young people."