National rock ‘n’ roll dance successes

Talent earns national title when supported by our school values of commitment, achievement, resilience, and respect.

Shelby (Year 11, on the left in the lead photo), with her two partners Caleb and Kaiya, took out a national title over he Easter weekend, winning the senior triples section (dancing AND best dressed .. a pretty prestigious combination) in this year’s national junior rock and roll dance championships.

Shelby, in Year 11, competed with two other dancers in three sections across the weekend: triples, seniors, and same sex.

She came second in seniors with partner Caleb (14-18 year olds, and the toughest section of the weekend), and third in same sex with partner Kaiya. They were also placed in the best dressed components of those competitions too. All three of these amazing young people showed a true commitment to creative excellence.

Their successes come after 5 months of training (coached by Lorraine and Robin Sutton, and Keithleen Javier), during which Shelby and her partners repeatedly demonstrated our school values of commitment, achievement, resilience, and respect. Sutton described Shelby and her partners as gifted natural dancers who will all have a great future ahead in rock and roll dance. 

The Hornby connection runs deep. Caleb and Kaiya and their whānau were formerly Hornby folk, and father Reuben and uncle Clayton were former Hornby High School students. Reuben was a member of the Rockquest winning band ‘Outer Control’, and Clayton was a former Head Boy and a music teacher at another local high school.

Shelby, Caleb, and Kaiya, all dance for Christchurch Rock and Roll Club, based in Hornby for all of its nearly forty years, currently based at the Hei Hei Community Centre and The Hornby Club. The club is always keen to nurture local talent. Inquiries are welcome at secretary@christchurchrocknroll.org.nz

#manahoromaka #creativeexcellence