DANCENZMADE'S interschool TOUR EVENTS are FOR primary, intermediate and high schools FROM ACROSS NEW ZEALAND TO COME TOGETHER IN A CELEBRATION OF DANCE.
SINCE 2009, DEAN MCKERRAS (NEW ZEALAND'S OWN DANCEMAN) AND HIS EVER GROWING TEAM OF KIWI DANCE SPECIALISTS, HAVE BEEN THE FORCE BEHIND THE INITIATIVE. EVENTS CONSIST OF COMPETITIONS (SOLO, DUO, TRIO AND TEAMS) AND WORKSHOPS BY OUR NZ DANCE SPECIALISTS.
SEE below for example timetables, FAQs and OUR 2027 DATES!
2027 dates by region
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Solos, Duos and Trios: 22nd August
Regionals: July 23rd, 23rd August, 24th August and 1st September (Trusts Arena)
Prices
Dancers - $35
Dancer Development -$49
Solos - $35
Duos/Trios - $50
Teams - $40
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Solos, Duos, Trios: 1st August
Regional Days: 2nd August and 3rd August (James Hay)
Dancers - $35
Dancer Development -$49
Solos - $35
Duos/Trios - $50
Teams - $40
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Solos, Duos, Trios: 7th August
Regional: 8th August
Dancers - $30
Dancer Development - $44
Solos - $35
Duos/Trios - $40
Teams - $35
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Solos, Duos Trios: 15th August
Regional: 16th August
Prices
Dancers - $30
Dancer Development - $44
Solos -$35
Duos/Trios - $45
Teams - $35
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Solos, Duos Trios & Regional: 5th August
Prices
Dancers - $30
Dancer Development - $44
Solos - $35
Duos/Trios - $45
Teams - $35
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Solos, Duos Trios: 26th July
Regional: 27th July
Prices
Dancers - $28
Dancer Development -$39
Solos - $35
Duos/Trios - $40
Teams - $35
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Solos, Duos Trios: 30th July,
Regional: 29th July, 12th August
Prices
Dancers - $28
Dancer Development - $39
Solos - $35
Duos/Trios - $40
Teams - $35
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Solos, Duos Trios: 26th August
Regional: 27th August
Prices
Dancers - $25
Dancer Development - $35
Solos - $30
Duos/Trios - $30
Teams - $30
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Solos, Duos Trios: 19th August
Regional: 20th August
Prices
Dancers - $28
Dancer Development -$39
Solos - $35
Duos/Trios - $40
Teams - $35
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Solos, Duos Trios: 9th August
Regional: 10th August
Prices
Dancers - $30
Dancer Development - $44
Solos - $35
Duos/Trios - $45
Teams - $35
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Solos, Duos Trios: 29th August
Regional: 30th August
Prices
Dancers - $25
Dancer Development - $35
Solos - $30
Duos/Trios - $30
Teams - $30
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Solos, Duos Trios and Regional: 18th August
Prices
Dancers - $25
Dancer Development - $35
Solos - $30
Duos/Trios - $30
Teams - $30
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17th - 18th September (location TBC, but not Palmerston North this year!)
competition divisions
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Per: Dancer entry
Limit: One only
Time: 2min max
Age groups: Ind Yr Group
Genre: All. However please check with us via email if doing tap, as not all venues allow.
See official rules in FAQ section above
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Per: Total paid for duo or trio ($30 divided by two or three dancers)
Limit: Any number of duos & trios from combinations of dancers but one pair or trio of dancers can only present one dance
Time: 2min max
Age groups: Yr 3-6, 7/8, 9/10, 11-13, & Open
Genre: All. However please check with us via email if doing tap, as not all venues allow.
See official rules in FAQ section above
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Per: Team/dance entry
Limit: Any number of teams, across all age groups
Time: 4min max
Age groups: Yr 3-6, 7/8, 9/10, 11-13 & Open
Genre: All. However please check with us via email if doing tap, as not all venues allow.
See official rules in FAQ section above
FAQS
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Example Timetable for Regional Days
note: exact timetable is venue dependent and is available on the app
8:30am - 9am • Welcome & Warm up
9:00am • Workshops with Dance Specialists in Year Groups
e.g. Year 3-6, Years 7-8, Year 9-10 and Year 11-13
12;00pm • All Dancers Finale Rehearsal
1:00pm • Team Stage Rehearsals
5:00pm • Dinner Break
6:00pm • Competition Showcase
9:30pm • Finish
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Register through the app (button to download the app at the top of this page).
Entries Open each year on 1st June and close at the end of Term Two!
Who needs to register?
All dancers attending must please be registered.Competing Dancers: In order to compete in a solo, duo, trio or group, all individual dancers must be registered. All dancers rehearse entries plus participate in up to 3 x complimentary 30-60 minute workshops covering three genres/aspects of dance/performance on the day.
Non-competing Dancers:
We realise many schools are developing younger teams and/or have dancers who miss out on team placement at audition time, however show huge potential. These dancers are catered for with our Dance Development Programme where they come for the days programme including joining in the workshops, have the opportunity to help competition preparation at the venue and then sit out front and support their school enjoying being inspired by all the school’s performances.Regional Entires open on June 1st
Nationals Entries Open mid August (date TBC)
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Are sold through normal venue outlets. Further down this page, expand the cities drop down to find the ticket links.
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Ensure your music and dance content is suitable for GA audiences and age appropriate for dancers performing the entry. DanceNZmade reserves the right to remove unsuitable entries from the programme
Your solo must be a complete piece. Solo entries no longer need to be unique to the Interschool (they can have been performed in another competition or they can have been part of a school showcase / assessment.) However please be advised that a 'complete dance journey or experience' should be what you present. A 'shortened' competition circuit dance is not advised for this competition.
Be inspired by all you see and do but ensure your work is your own, like it or love it but please don’t copy is. DanceNZmade reserves the right to remove ‘copied’ entries from the programme.
You can enhance any aspect of your routine by 20% i.e. the entry must be the same routine you competed at regionals, but you can alter any aspect (costume, music, choreography etc) but up to 20% only.
Dance Time Limits:
Solo: 2 minutes
Group: 4 minutes
Please ensure routines stay within these limits. This is particularly important at Nationals, where routines exceeding the time limit will lose marks.
*Please check with us if wanting to Tap - not all venues allow
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Introduced in 2021 our Tahi Award was inspired by Stan Walker's story and New Zealand's strength through all things. Each year we will select a song by a New Zealand Artist which can be choreographed by teacher/student or a collaboration. This will be entered alongside all other entries and will eligible for all awards at Regionals. Nationally we will put all scores together and ask the top three entries to compete at Nationals for the overall award.
2027 Tahi Award Artist and song: TBC
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Solos: Presentations will be made at Regionals. The top scoring dancers across all year groups are up for a SHE SHINES ON National Solo nominee offering the opportunity of winning the fabulous trip to LA thanks to SHE SHINES ON.
Duos and Trios: Open Entry! Fills up fast so get in quick!
Groups: Our National Final is designed to ensure every school has a place and every school is represented. Regional Year Group category placings qualify for Nationals as follows:
1st place (Year Group Champion) and 2nd place, where there are up to 8 entries at regional competition
Up to 3rd place, where there are 9–15 entries at regional level
Up to 4th place, where there are 16 or more entries at regional level
Plus:
The top two scoring teams from each school can qualify if they don’t meet the criteria above.
Tahi Award entrants receive automatic entry to Nationals.
• National Qualifying teams will be clearly marked with “NQ” above their result on the app.
Nationals Entries Open on Sunday 16 August at 6:00pm
We look forward to seeing you all at Nationals!
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On Sunday morning of Nationals weekend, our dance specialists hold workshops for all age groups! Sign up through the app!
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At competition/show time we encourage only necessary teaching staff to be backstage and all other supporters out front to give our dancers the audience they deserve! We are a non funded event reliant on ‘bums on seats’ to survive! For this reason we do not provide complimentary tickets. We thank you for your understanding and ask you to please support our event by purchasing your tickets early to avoid queues, missing the beginning of the show and risk of a full house with no door sales available!
dance, energy, passion & inspiration
5200 students from 360 schools have joined us in 2026!
Will you join us next?
#NZSD 3rd Yr #contemporarydance students, Kataraina Poata and Nicola Anslo by Stephen A'Court Photographer
IN PARTNERSHIP, DANCENZMADE IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY: THE NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF DANCE
Prizes
National Team Champions • $3000 from SHE SHINES ON
National Solo Champion • 1x SHE SHINES ON LA Tour
Choreography Awards
invitation day at new zealand school of dance
“I can't speak highly enough about your DanceNZmade Interschool. The kids really get into the supportive learning atmosphere, take away new skills, and it isn't the logistical nightmare of other dance based competitions. Our kids just want to take part and see others dance and cheer each other on. It's fantastic.”
— Juanita, Kuranui College
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