Rotorua: Harcourts Dancing for Hospice returns in September

Harcourts Dancing for Hospice in 2023. Photo / Andrew Warner

Harcourts Dancing for Hospice is returning to Rotorua this year “refreshed and re-energised” after becoming a biennial event.

The “much-loved” dancing competition will take place at the Energy Events Centre on September 19.

Rotorua Community Hospice announced last year that Dancing for Hospice would become a biennial event.

The charity held a smaller-scale but no less glamorous gala event in place of the flagship fundraiser called Harcourts Vegas Showtime in August.

Rotorua Community Hospice fundraising and marketing manager Jessica Meade said Vegas Showtime was “really successful”.

“It was fantastic to introduce a brand-new event to Rotorua in 2025 … and we’re thrilled to announce the return of Harcourts Dancing for Hospice in 2026.

“After its shift to a biennial format, Harcourts Dancing for Hospice is back — refreshed and re-energised.

“We’re sure the Rotorua community will be excited to have this much-loved event back in their social calendar.”

Meade said this year marked the 10th anniversary since the dancing competition launched in 2016.

She said to “expect a few surprises” at this year’s event to mark the occasion.

Meade said it was seeking registrations of interest from anyone who was “keen to dance”.

The hospice was looking for individuals and couples with relatively little dance experience. Twenty dancers would be selected to learn a dance to perform on the night.

“We’re looking for community-minded people who want to give back to a worthy cause.”

Meade said dancers needed to be older than 18 and commit to about four months of practice.

“They do need to be able to make room in their schedules for the training because it inevitably becomes a bigger priority in their life than they probably ever think it will be.”

Meade said it was “such a vibrant, exciting event for the community” and was looking forward to raising the hospice’s profile.

She was also looking forward to “hearing the cheer of the audience” when the dancers came out on stage and surprised them with “how well they’ve done in the training because they’re just so good”.

Darrius Strickland and Holly Tuhakaraina were the winners for Dancing for Hospice 2024. Photo / Tracey Scott

Meade said the “cornerstone fundraising event” was really important to the hospice.

“We’re hoping to raise vital funds for our service because we need $1.2 million a year from our very generous community.

“Our very generous community helps keep our service free of charge.”

Darrius Strickland and Holly Tuhakaraina won Harcourts Dancing for Hospice 2024 with a Barbie-themed samba. More than $100,000 was estimated to have been raised for the hospice.

Those interested in registering for this year’s event can email fundraising@rotoruahospice.co.nz

Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.