Dance festival competitions to be at held Whanganui Girls College

Nikesha Scaife performing to Broadway Baby in the tap open class competition last year. Photo/Stuart Munro

Every school holidays, the Wanganui Competitions Society hosts talented young singers, musicians, actors and dancers from around New Zealand.

Next week the annual dance festival competitions will be held at Whanganui Girls' College from Tuesday, April 23 to Friday, April 26.

Society president Ilse Boessenkool says entry numbers for this competition are up by a third this year and competitors are coming from as far afield as Auckland.

"Modern dance sections are especially popular this year and many classes have up to 20 dancers competing.

"The adjudicator for ballet and modern dance is Emma Maddock from Wellington and Penny Ward from Te Puke will adjudicate the tap dancing."

Boessenkool says members of the public are welcome to attend the competitions held in the school hall.

"Ballet features from 2pm on Tuesday through to lunchtime on Wednesday followed by modern dance competitions that run till Thursday night.

"Tap dancing starts at 8am on Friday and will run till late in the evening.

"Members of the public are very welcome to attend one or more sessions and are sure to be delighted by the excellent performances."

The entry fee is $2.50 per adult for each session and Boessenkool says the hall has good wheelchair access.