BACKOur Rangitoto Dance Company delivered an extraordinary showing at the Auckland regional DanceNZmade competition. Going toe-to-toe with over 700 participants across 18 schools, our dancers took the stage by storm, bringing home top team placings, choreography honors, and prestigious individual awards.
Beyond the medals and trophies, our students truly embodied the Rangitoto spirit throughout the event. They demonstrated outstanding professionalism and an incredible work ethic from start to finish. Most importantly, they represented Rangitoto College with immense pride, cheering each other on continuously while showing immense respect for event staff and rival schools alike.
Sensational Team Results
The competition kicked off with high energy in the Junior Section (Years 9–10), where our Junior Jazz team snagged 1st Place with their lively routine to It’s Raining Men. The momentum kept building in the Senior Section (Years 11–13), with our Open Troupe taking home 1st Place for their breathtaking performance of Je Te Laisse. This routine was also honored with an Excellence in Choreography award and earned a sought-after PACANZ nomination.
Our teams also made waves in the Open Section (Ages 9–13 combined), where all dance genres compete directly against each other for only six top spots. Facing tough competition, two of our five entry groups secured top placings – our Hip Hop Mega Crew claimed 3rd Place, while our Jazz Troupe placed 6th with Can’t Turn You Loose.
When the entire event wrapped up, Rangitoto College placed two teams among the absolute best of the day. The Open Troupe took home 2nd Place Overall, while the Hip Hop Mega Crew secured 4th Place Overall across the entire regional event.
Individual Recognition & Workshop Excellence
In addition to group routines, our dancers participated in intense regional workshops featuring hundreds of students, with several Rangitoto dancers earning major individual accolades. Mia Rajaratnam (Year 12), Kira Morgan (Year 12), and Claire Natalie (Claire) Hartwig (Year 11) all earned Golden Ticket nominations, placing them among the top 10 dancers selected.
Claire Hartwig was also one of just nine students to receive a prestigious NZ School of Dance Invitation. To top off an exceptional event, Eric Taylor (Year 13) was named Standout Dancer of the Day, earning a full scholarship to the renowned Ettingshausens Pro full-time dance school in Australia.
We are also extremely proud of the students who represented Rangitoto College at the Auckland regional solo competition on Friday night: Wenxi (Tina) Li (Year 9), who placed 2nd; Ashley Grace (Ashley) Smith, Melody Weng, and Duong Ngoc Han (Vanessa) Le (Year 11), with Vanessa placing 5th; and Mia Rajaratnam (Year 12), who placed 2nd.
A massive congratulations to all of our incredible dancers, choreographers, and supporters on a spectacular few days of achievements!
