World history in dance at the college

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 581, 11 April 1995, Page 9

World history in dance at the college

Tribal rhythms and 'techno sounds' are filling the hall at Ruapehu College three times a week while students rehearse for the 1995 Smokefree Stage Challenge. Stage Challenge has been an item on Secondary school calendars now in this country for three years. It is a stage concept that originated in Sydney 16 years ago. In Australia, Stage Challenge (called Rock Eisteddfod) is produced in 35 towns and cities and this year the competition will begin in Fiji. Stage Challenge is about producing a dramatic dance sequence of eight minutes using popular music to portray a theme. Stage Challenge is aimed at being fun, and relevant using popular music to portray a theme. Rehearsals at Ruapehu College have been under way since the beginning of March with a large time commitment by students and staff. Following on the success and fun of the 1994 event Ruapehu College had to hold auditions for positions in the dance sequences. This year

50 students are involved in the production - 38 dancers and 12 backstage crew. Choreography and production are being managed by Kath Campbell, Kerri Gibson and Jude Knight. Evolve It ! — the college' s production this year — takes the audience from the beginning of time through the earliest of civilisations to the age of technology and beyond to destruction. The dance aims to suggests that life evolves in cycles. The 1995 Manawatu heat is being held at Palmerston North College of Education on Monday 24 April. Tickets for the performance are available through the College until Wednesday 1 2 April at $ 1 3 per ticket and at the College of Education after that. A public dress rehearsal will be held at Ruapehu College Hall on Friday 21 April at 12.45pm, and all parents and friends are welcome to attend.