Dancing for Hospice 2024: Pricked fingers and tears of frustration result in unique ‘fit

Rotorua Daily Post's Laura Smith is taking part in this year's Harcourts Dancing for Hospice.

Rotorua Daily Post reporter Laura Smith is taking part in this year’s Harcourts Dancing for Hospice. She shares her thoughts in the build-up to the August 17 event.

OPINION

You may recall my idiocy in deciding to make my own costume. Well, here’s a wee update for you on how that has been going.

First let me tell you why: I am a picky little miss. Want something done, do-it-yourself, right?

So after I failed to find anything I liked well enough to spend a small fortune on for a costume, I spent the same amount of time poring over fabrics and embellishments to conjure up a ‘fit.

And you know what? Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

I shan’t divulge the details - you’ll have to wait - but I am more than happy to tell anyone who will listen about how tedious and painful my sewing experience has been.

The thing is, the less patient I get with it, the more I prick my damn fingers. I really am an idiot.

It wasn’t looking all that great either, and I started feeling a little unsure about my choice. Should I have gotten a backup?

Probably, because that would have been the smart thing to do, but my decision to make my own outfit was driven mostly by the economics of it and what would be the point of spending more money.

But as I hemmed and trimmed and put fabric to fabric, things are looking much better. Wearable even.

So I don’t think I will be ashamed of stepping on stage when it comes to the big night. Maybe even...proud?

Harcourts Dancing for Hospice is on Saturday, August 17, at the Energy Events Centre, Rotorua. This year, for the first time, there will also be a matinee on Sunday, August 11, at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre. Tickets to both the matinee and the main event are on sale now at Ticketmaster.

This author is taking part in Harcourts Dancing for Hospice outside her salaried hours. NZME is a sponsor of the charity event and any content by the Local Democracy Reporter is done in her own time.

Laura Smith is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based at the Rotorua Daily Post. She previously reported general news for the Otago Daily Times and Southland Express, and has been a journalist for four years.