Cultural Festival

On Friday the 27th of November the classes from the senior and juniors were setting up for their big night of the month. We were so pumped we could not wait to perform in front of our families and audiences.  I saw kids running into the hall with their parents trying to get front seats.

After 5 minutes the kapa haka group and I were lined up outside the exit door. I was so surprised to see my family watch me go on stage with the rest of the group. For our opening haka we started of with Toia mai, Kamate and then Te Na Koutou. The next performance was room 4 doing poi e the entire audience were smiling with joy because the junior students were so fabulous in their costumes and their good performance.

Up for their next performance was Alex and Richie. These two kids used blue nunjucks to show of the amazing talents. Alex and his brothers mom was happy to see them share their skills with the audience. Next was the Samoan girls they were all ready in their cultural dress and ready to dance to the beat of the music. The 5th item was about saving the world acted out by room 5 students. Room 5 carried  rubbish that needed to go into the correct bin.

Next to go on stage was the drumming group called sounds of Glenbrae, with all their beats they gave it their best to to get more and more people to dance in front of their families. My Tongan group was next to perform. When we got onto the stage we were being cheered at. Our music played until the dance was over, I was happy to see my group smiling at each other.

To go on stage next was the cook Island group, they were all dressed up in their Island costumes that were made for them to use. The beats of the drums were so loud I could not speak properly to my friends. When they had finished their dance they grabbed partners to shake with in front of the audience. The Niuean group was lined up ready to dance, I was the drummer for it because I was super keen to drum. The Niueans next item was a slow dance with music, so I quickly mysteriously got out of my seat to get ready to do the haka after it.

Later on that night the Bollywood dance group was being performed by room 5 students. With all their moves, principle Miss Elia was fascinated and jumpy around the seats. While we were waiting for another 5 minutes Mrs Ripata began a dance battle between the Tongans, Samoan, Maori and Cook Islands. So the Cook Island Drumming group played a fast beat, with the audience's laughter they almost pop like popcorn in a oven. Suspiciously, the Tongan girls surprised us with a beautiful slow dance.

For our two last performances was the Sasa group and the Alisa's Tauolunga. As it came to the end of the program the teachers and Afe had to call out the winners of the meat packet, the vegetarian prize and the healthy prize. The parents had felt really proud of their kids performing to raise a lot of money for camp.