Amjazz takes to the stage

Amjazz Dance Studios celebrates 20 years training Rotorua dancers, and the title of tomorrow night's showcase, Eat. Sleep. Dance. Repeat! describes the passion teachers and students have for their art.

Principal teacher Nikki Wilkinson was a student when her first dance teacher Mary Evers died, leaving the studio to Nikki's mother, Pam Shanks.

Then, the studio only taught jazz and had a roll of 60 students.

Over the past 20 years Mrs Wilkinson and her mother built Amjazz's roll to approximately 400 students, ranging in age from 5 to 68 years, and offering other genres including hip-hop, contemporary, tap, lyrical, and musical theatre.

She said dance has become a much more accepted art form over the past two decades, which is possibly the reason for the steep growth in their roll.

"We are really just rolling with the times. With the accessibility of the internet and You Tube, dance is in the everyday consciousness of people," said Mrs Wilkinson.

Some of her students have stayed with the studio for 20 years and Mrs Wilkinson is proud to offer classes to both adults and children.

"Some of our adult dancers have never left us, and others have returned after raising children and having careers. They come back because it is something for themselves - it is good for their health and wellbeing," she said.

Tomorrow night's showcase is a celebration of the efforts of the dancers and teachers over the past 20 years.

"It will be fast-paced, and colourful, with lots of interesting costumes. It will be entertaining, and you will leave being inspired, especially with all the different age groups," she said.

What: Amjazz - Eat. Sleep. Dance. Repeat!
Where: Civic Theatre
When: Tomorrow 1.30pm and 6.30pm
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.nz