Young performers will pay tribute to dancers from around the world when they gather on Saturday evening (17 July) for the Harbour Youth Dance Festival.
Over 150 youth between the ages of 12 and 17 will perform at the Mairangi Baychapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to participate in the annual dance festival.
The youth from eight Mormon congregations on the North Shore have been practicing for the past three months in preparation for the big night.
The evening will begin with the ballroom section which will involve 76 couples performing 12 different dance selections including the Cha Cha, Waltz, Salsa, and others.
Connie Forster, a volunteer dance instructor said: “We wanted to teach the kids something new to help them appreciate other cultures of the world."
The Cumbia from Columbia and the Tinku from Bolivia are just two of the many international dances that will be performed on the night.
The dancers will be outfitted in the colourful traditional costumes of the country they represent, most of which have been sewn by parents of the youth or other volunteers.
When asked about the benefits of this activity, Mormon youth leader Wayne Pemberton said: “Besides being fun, it gives the youth a chance to learn new skills and talents and to learn about other cultures of the world. It also helps them to build self-confidence as they perform before an audience of their families and peers."
Activities such as these are regularly organized for Mormon teens and their friends on the North Shore and worldwide. The activities provide opportunities for socializing, learning new skills and having fun in a safe, alcohol and drug-free environment.
