Napier Girls' High School

Dance is an NCEA Subject at Level 2 and Level 3 where students learn a repertoire of dance, work on choreography and perform in groups. Many of our NCEA dance students take part in co-curricular dance as well. There is the opportunity for solo work and students can work towards Scholarship Dance.

Dance is also a popular Co-Curricular activity at NGHS. At the beginning of each year students attend dance club sessions and auditions and from this a series of dance teams and projects are created for regional competitions. All dance styles are welcomed and styles such as contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, jazz, cultural dance and musical theatre are very popular. Students can also form their own duos and trios and work towards our annual dance evening and DanceNZMade.

DanceNZMade Regional Results 2025

DanceNZMade Regionals saw 73 students light up the stage at the Interschool Team Event in 10 incredible teams! Every single group brought their energy, passion and artistry, delivering outstanding performances on stage. We couldn’t be prouder of our dancers, choreographers and supporters - what a night to remember

1st Place Junior Division ‘To Peter: With Love and Light’ Choreographed by Greer Dooney

1st Place Senior Division ‘Lux Aeterna’ Choreographed by Grace Kirker, Maddy Dolley and Charli Dewsnap

Excellence in Choreography Award 10/10 Grace Kirker, Maddy Dolley and Charli Dewsnap

2nd Runner Up Senior Division ‘One River, Many Currents, Together in Pacifica Grace’ Choreographed by Jazmin Williams, Destiny Tuese, Mansi Giri and Eva Warr

2nd Runner Up Open Division ‘Alexander Hamilton’ Choreographed by Charli Dewsnap

3rd Runner Up Open Division ‘Resurge’ Choreographed by Natalia Christie, Addisyn Burn, Kasaiah-Marie Hazel, Mansi Giri and Grace Kirker

4th Runner Up Open Division ‘Girl With One Eye’ Choreographed by Hannah Potter, Seyarna Anderson and Isla Harrison

Overall Hawkes’ Bay Team Champions 2025 - 2nd Runner Up ‘Alexander Hamilton’

Director’s Award “For embracing the Tahi Award with Excellence”

Golden Ticket Award recipient Piper Golds

On top of taking home 9 Interschool team awards, NGHS also had 12 incredible competitors in the solo//duo/trio section at DanceNZMade 👏👏👏

⭐️Year 9 1st Place Soloist - Piper Golds (National Nomination)

⭐️Year 12 1st Place Soloist - Mansi Giri (National Nomination)

⭐️Year 13 1st Place Soloist - Hannah Potter (National Nomination)

⭐️Year 13 1st Runner Up Soloist - Seyarna Anderson (National Nomination)

⭐️Year 13 3rd Runner Up Soloist - Grace Kirker (National Nomination)

⭐️Year 13 4th Runner Up Soloist - Emily Davidson-Payne

⭐️Year 9 - 10 Duo/Trio - 1st Runner Up Bella Adams and Riley Caves

⭐️Year 11 - 13 Duo/Trio - 1st Runner Up Natalia Christie and Addisyn Burn

Showquest 2026

Our 2026 Showquest entry, ‘Emma Twigg - Against the Current’.

We are incredibly proud of what our cast and crew created and the story they brought to life on stage. The performance was awarded 2nd Place Overall, along with awards for Best Story, Excellence in Technology (Video Wall), and recognition in Dance, Culture and Live Music. Below is a selection of comments from our three judges, reflecting the creativity, storytelling and technical elements that went into this performance:

"Strong concept and theme, really positive opening scene." "Amazing portrayal of resilience and storytelling." "Amazing cohesiveness between the videos, props and what's happening on the stage. Well done!" "Great use of prop to represent the water." "Clever way to depict the Clive River, simple with big impact." "Excellent use of the video wall." "The dance and music is well chosen and executed." "Great technical elements in the dancing." "Love the incorporation of different cultural dance!" "Powerful, expressive and entertaining, well done." "Has Emma seen this? I am sure she would be stoked!"