Wanganui Wannabe winner Jhenai Kendrick is banking on nationwide exposure to help launch her dance and choreography career.
The 15-year-old Wanganui High School student hip hopped her way into the national finals of the TV2 Wannabes interactive show last weekend using her own moves rehearsed during the week leading up to
the regional competition at Majestic Square last Saturday.
And Jhenai has her older sister to thank for much of her success to date.
"She is five years older and since I was about seven I used to dance with her in her bedroom at home and we still do.
But for the last couple of years I've danced with Stayz (Raukawa-Goff) at the Y We Dance school at the YMCA," she said yesterday.
"I entered Wannabes last year and danced with a group ? we came second. And this year I also entered with a group and came second again, but my solo performance won me the competition."
Jhenai will now fly to Christchurch to make a dance video which will screen on the TV2 Wannabes show sometime in July.
"I was really nervous, almost panicking before my solo performance, but once on stage and the music started I relaxed immediately and got right into my routine. I made up all the moves myself drawing on my experience with Stayz and it felt really satisfying to win. My mother was straight on the phone ringing family out of town to tell them. The support from family and friends has been amazing.
"I will perform the same dance routine in Christchurch and I'm hoping the nationwide exposure will open doors. I love to dance, but ultimately I'd like to become a choreographer."
The Wannabes crew is now on a shopping spree to kit Jhenai out for her national television debut.
"They've asked me what I will and won't wear and what type of style I'd like to put out there and hopefully I'll get to keep all the gear. "It's taken a while to sink in and I don't think it's fully sunk in yet ? that will probably happen when I get on set in Christchurch," Jhenai said.
