Dusting off their dancing shoes

The cliche stoic Kiwi afraid of dancing in public was nowhere in sight as crowds took to a central Dunedin street for a boogie at the weekend.

On Saturday and yesterday, the fourth annual Dance Ōtepoti Festival returned to the delight of hundreds who came to watch and dance in honour of International Dance Day and the city’s dance history.

Rasa School of Dance hip-hop dancers Edmund Lu, 11 (left), and Ollie Croft, 12, perform at the fourth annual Dance Ōtepoti Festival. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH

Saturday featured a dance party on central shopping street George St.

Dance Ōtepoti founder and general manager Anna Noonan said while there were plenty of groups giving performances, keen members of the audience were also able to get up and dust off their dance moves.

Many took part in the dance, which was a great sight, as New Zealanders were not known to get up and do that kind of thing.

Dunedin residents get up and dance in George St.

The event was just one step towards changing that tired trope, Mrs Noonan said.

"It’s true, but we’re trying to change that."

Rasa School of Dance, Otago Dancers, Swing Riot Dunedin, Vuelta Dance Salsa, the F Team, the Dunedin K Pop Crew and the Black and White Dance Studio were just some of the groups performing.