Rotorua Girls' High dance group wins at DanceNZmade National competition

Rotorua Girls' High School dancers are jumping for joy after winning their division at the DanceNZmade National competition.

The competition was held in Palmerston North last weekend and saw Xecute compete alongside more than 80 other groups.

DanceNZmade runs interschool and interstudio workshops and competitions and the school's group won the open division at the contest.

Student Kati Riri, 18, is one of 24 dancers in the hip hop group and said they had been preparing for months.

Rotorua Girls' High School hip hop group Xecute. Photo / Supplied

"We were practising three times a week, then in the last four weeks we practised every day."

As well as placing third in the open division, the group received the third overall award and received a $500 cheque.

Riri said they hadn't yet decided what it would be used for but she was proud of the performance.

"It was really fun. It felt like the most energy we'd ever given.

She said they were overwhelmed when they heard about the win.

Rotorua Girls' High School hip hop group Xecute. Photo / Supplied

"We were just really excited and started crying.

"We couldn't have done it without our dance teacher Janaye Biddle Kite and all the teachers that came with us."

The contest also had a senior, junior, primary and intermediate divisions.

Riri said the group had a few performances coming up in the future, including for mental health week, and Toi Ohomai's graduation.