The audience begged with riotous applause, and the boy and his South Otago High School classmates obliged by giving more than just break dancing during their popular kiwiana-themed Stage Challenge performance last night.
• 2011 Stage Challenge Gallery
The school was one of 12 from the Otago region that performed at the Edgar Centre, in Dunedin, presenting dance spectaculars with themes ranging from the psychological struggles of teenagers, the history of New Zealand Rugby and the fight against animal exploitation through to Beauty and the Beast and the materialist, gluttonous and violent powers of the three little pigs over the big bad wolf.
Otago secondary schools participating this year are Bayfield High School, Columba College, East Otago High School, Kaikorai Valley College, King's High School, Logan Park High School, Otago Girls' High School, Queen's High School, South Otago High School, St Hilda's Collegiate School, Waimate High School and Wakatipu High School.
However, it was Logan Park High School's circus act that won the competition. Their slick choreography, colourful costumes and scintillating set captured imaginations and highlighted the plight of exploited animals doing tricks for money. Columba College was runner-up with a performance inspired by Dr Seuss.
And King's High School was third after taking the audience on a journey through the history of New Zealand Rugby - from the Invincibles in the 1920s and the 1981 Springbok Tour, to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The performances in Dunedin started the 2011 nationwide ASB Stage Challenge tour, which involves nearly 15,000 secondary school pupils and aims to motivate young people to engage in positive and healthy lifestyles.
Stage Challenge has been part of New Zealand's youth performing arts scene since 1993 and encourages pupils to be their best without the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
While it had adapted and evolved during its 19-year history, event manager Alice Larmer said its core goal was unchanged.
"Our primary vision is to achieve social change through the use of the arts and by inspiring creative thinking among the youth who shape our future. With students, teachers, parents and communities working together helping to prepare each school's performance, we are positive that we are achieving our goal."
