A free family event to promote original music and dance is being held at Raglan’s Te Kopua Domain on December 3.
The Music and Dance Festival, being put on by charitable organisation Waikato Rocks, will include five dance groups, five bands, face painting and bouncy castles for the kids, food stalls and more.
Logan Nathan, a teacher at Raglan Area School and a trustee of Waikato Rocks, says he has always wanted to organise such a free event for Raglan and he is pleased it is finally happening. The Music and Dance Festival will become an annual event.
Performing will be: Sambatron, a Brazilian drums and dance group; Goddess Belly Dance Hamilton; the Raglan Area School junior kapa haka group; the Hamilton Chinese Ethnic Song and Dance Group; reggae-funk band Rootz Konekt from Hamilton; Raglan band Mighty Mighty; This Flight Tonight from Auckland; Jason McIver and the Collective from Taupo; and Te Aorangi Ariana-Smith from Hamilton.
Logan says there will also be a freestyle dance competition that is open to the public and organised by DJ Stretchmark, Dujon Cullingford.
“This is a one-on-one competition. One person will perform at a time,” says Logan.
Free style is a mix of hip-hop, break dance and contemporary dance, and there will be a cash prize of $500 for the winner.
The food stalls will include various ethnic cuisine organised by Gourmet in the Garden.
“We are expecting some art workshops and jewellery and also clothing, maybe.”
Waikato Rocks has been supporting original works by artists since 2010 on television, radio, online and on the stage.
“We started in radio with Tractor FM in Raglan, promoting original music from New Zealand, and then we expanded to Free FM 89.0, TV Central, SKY TV, online and organising events to showcase our people,” says Logan.
“The creativity of our people is abundant but they are not being supported enough.
“Waikato Rocks aims to showcase the creativity of our people in all possible mediums so that they are shared and celebrated in their own community and beyond.”
Logan says the groups performing at the Music and Dance Festival will be paid enough to cover their travel expenses but the trust hopes to pay them more in the future “if we get more funding for the event”.
He says about 500 to 600 people are expected to show up to the festival.
“But you never know, it could go to 1000 as we see the sun starting to shine, and people love to come to Raglan beach.”
Volunteers are needed to set up two marquees, for traffic management, and to help out onsite. Please contact Logan (ph 021 0252 6930, or via Facebook page Waikato Rocks or email nzmusic@waikatorocks.co.nz) if you would like to help out.
* The Music and Dance Festival is on Saturday, December 3, at Te Kopua Domain from 3pm to 9pm.
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