Stars Dance Rock ‘n’ Roll. Dancers and Cambridge Cruisers organisers before the event: Back Row, from left John Stutton, Anna Hastings, Graham Baldwin, Shale Tangianau, Hamish Lile, Liz Stolwyk, Bhavin Parshottam, Kari Nolan. Middle row, from left Justin Budgen, Lisa Lile, Nathan Philps, Aidan Edwards, Irene Barr, Kieran Nolan, Jim Berry, David Nordell.Third row, from left Pam Berry, Amy Claire Walsh, Craig Clark, John Mullions. Front row, from left Stacey Crook, Aliesha Moroney, Helena Graat, Colleen Ryan. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Rock ‘n’ roll is here to stay if the response to Saturday’s inaugural dance competition at Lake Karāpiro is any indication. Mary Anne Gill was there and took these photos.
Organisers say the inaugural Stars Dance Rock ‘n’ Roll event, which featured 18 competitors dancing in front of 400 people, proved Cambridge is a thriving and vibrant town.
Riverrock Farm’s Aliesha Moroney and Cambridge Cruisers dancer Craig Clark won the event on Saturday night after a dance off featuring Colleen Ryan and Shale Tangianau (Go Waipā) and Stacey Crook (Cambridge Sportsworld) and Nathan Philps.
The winning couple practised five days a night for eight weeks and was the audience’s favourite following the first round.
Ryan, the Cruisers club spokesperson, was roped in to dance with Tangianu following an injury to his original partner and said it was a perfect setting for the night.
“It’s an intense time leading up to the event for the dancers and their stars managing work commitments and a couple of injuries from the dancers, which can happen with any dance programme,” she said.
Each star, including deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, danced to their chosen song, and then joined with two other couples for judges to get another look before the dance off.
Ryan said the collaboration with businesses, organisations and the community is valued more than ever.
The best dressed couple was Professional Farm Services Graham Baldwin and Pam Berry.
Ryan said the amount raised would not be known for a couple of weeks.
