Dancing to go nationwide Ohakune family to entertain

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 18, 29 September 1987, Page 13

Dancing to go nationwide Ohakune family to entertain

This Saturday there will entertainment of a different kind to what has been on offer lately - from Ohakune's Mareikura family. A show described as a Polynesian spectacular will be performed by about twelve of the family at the Ohakune Hotel. While the show has been performed many times before it is more than three years since the Waimarino has seen it. Songs and dances from the Pacific

make up the show, with some from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Rarotonga and Tokelau Islands, plus a spectacular Samoan fireknife dance. The show evolved from when Agnes, Patsy and Charles worked, at different times, in a Polynesian group based at a tourist resort in Japan, 120 km from Tokyo.

When they returned to New Zealand they got the rest of the family involved and formed the group. They have performed around they country as support acts for entertainment such as Billy T James and the Platters. The Mareikuras create their own music rather than using tapes, so have acquired a number of instruments.

Behind every successful, talented young dancer ... there's their mother and local teenagers Cherie Young and sisters Suzanne and Janine Mcllroy who are appearing on 'Telequest' in November in the dance category, attest to the truth of this statement. They say it is thanks to their families, coupled with a love of dancing, that they have done so well. The girls began dancing with the Joy Wilson Academy of Dance in Ohakune eight years ago. All three recently attained their advanced modern dance grade and are working towards their 'solo seal' grading. Cherie is also striving for her 'advanced grade, classical dance'. Janine 17 and Suzanne 15, are both students of the Valerie Whyman Welton Dance Centre in Wanganui, while Cherie 15, tutors grade two pupils of modern dance with the Joy Wilson Academy where she is still a pupil. The trio made their debut as can-can dancers earlier this - year, after being approached by Ohakune ideritity Val Parkes, who organised 'Rene's Cafe' - a cabaret with a french theme. Their rendition of 'Hooked on Can-Can' which they choreographed themselves received rave reviews and they have made many subsequent appearances for charity organisations and clubs. They also appeared at the recent Snow Dance Night and won the 'Goofta Award' for the best performance. The girls under the name 'Spectrum Dancers' auditioned successfully before television personality Ray Columbus in August and were selected to appear as one of the top six in the dance category of this

year's Telequest, to be screened on 22 November. If successful, they will be required to appear again for the grand final on 13 December. Pam Young said she is delighted with the dancers' success. "It makes all the hard work worthwhile," she said. The colourful can-can dresses were designed and made completely by hand by 'The Mums' - Pam Young and Pat Mcllroy. Many hours went into sewing on the countless metres of tulle and sequins that make the costumes so

bright and colourful - hence the name 'Spectrum'. The name also describes their dancing and chqreography, which was described by Ray Columbus as "bright, different and original, an adult dance - choreographed tastefully." The girls practice for around two hours each day and aspire to be professional dancers. All three maintain they enjoy the rigorous training. "We dance because we love it, not because we have to," said Janine. "We thought it was hard work before, but really the hard work is just- beginning," said Cherie.