Wanganui High School's portrayal of women's suffrage has earned them a second place in the national finals of the Mission-On 2009 Stage Challenge.
The school was chosen as one of seven judge's wildcard entries for the national finals after coming third in the regional finals behind Waiopehu College and winners Horowhenua
Out of 22 finalists, Wanganui High School was announced the second place winner of the national competition on television last weekend.
Wellington College was the national winner overall.
Stage Challenge liaison teacher Nita Pond said she and six stage challenge choreographers Lena Aziz, Alicia Slater, Georgia Ramsden, Rosemary Maguire, Mercy Cornish, Clare Pepperell, gathered at her house on Saturday morning to watch the 7:30am winners announcement.
"I invited the girls around for breakfast; hIGH PLACINGwe were all glued to the TV. When we saw we came second we were so excited, everyone was jumping up and down."
Ms Pond said the school had won the regional finals every year except 2004 and this year.
In 2004 they were chosen as a wildcard team and came first in the national finals.
Ms Pond said preparations for the stage challenge had begun in November 2008, and the theme of women's suffrage had been whittled down from more than 30 ideas put forward by students.
"We've done things with a New Zealand theme before, and we wanted to continue it. It starts with the women being denied the vote and then it ends with a final scene outside parliament with women being given the right to vote and a petition of signatures is unfurled. The theme of red and white and camellias runs through it all."
Unlike earlier years, six students, who have a combined experience in jazz, ballet, contemporary dance and gymnastics, did all the choreography.
The girls spent up to three months preparing students for the 8-minute performance, sometimes working seven days a week before, during and after school.
In total, 140 students took part in the show, 40 of which were backstage in production.
The experience was well worth the stress and hard work, said the girls.
"It was actually so cool, because we got to work with lots of students and everyone wanted to be in it, "Georgia Ramsden said.
Lena Aziz, who played the leading role of Kate Sheppard, said the pressure was on to match the schools winning record.
"Because we have such a good record we felt there was a lot of expectation, and we'd hoped to do better [at regionals]. We were really proud of what we'd produced, so when we got second nationally it was sort of like the excitement that we wanted to feel [at regionals], we got to feel."
Ms Pool said the judges commented that the schools performance was "near genius" and had "stunning costume, choreography and effects."
Bring on next year.
PICTURED: Wanganui High School students Rosemary Maguire 17, (from left), Lena Aziz 17, Clare Pepperell 18, Mercy Cornish 18, Georgia Ramsden 17, and Alicia Slater 18, choreographed the school's Mission-On Stage Challenge entry this year.
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