SPRING! Key info for whanau.
It's that time again! We're almost there for our Spring Showcase 2026 — a collaboration between Ali Tylee's dance school "Depth of Motion," Throw Shapes Dance School (that's us!), and the music students of Levity Beet.
The showcase takes place over two days at Pōhara Hall and includes three performances.
Key Dates
Saturday 19 September — Informal dress rehearsal, 12:30–3:30pm. This is a relaxed get-together where everyone gets to see each other's dances and get a feel for backstage flow and transitions, so that by the time we reach tech rehearsal, nothing feels new — we can just focus on looking good in the lights and getting on and off stage cleanly. We've built the day with an awareness of other things happening in your whānau schedule this season (like Drama Lab youth plays and football prize-givings), and have tried to order the day so dancers with other commitments can get away in good time. Depth of Motion will have the hall to themselves from 3:30–5:00pm to finish rehearsing after Throw Shapes wraps up. No lighting or sound — all costumes should be ready by this date. Please make sure your dancer has food, drink, any costume parts, and warm clothing to get through the day.
Thursday 24 September, 3:30–6:30pm — Tech/dress rehearsal at Pōhara Hall. All students required. Older students may be asked to join earlier as their lighting and sound is more complex. Youngest performers will be released as early as possible.
Friday 25 September, 6:30–9pm — Show 1
Saturday 26 September, 1:30–4pm — Show 2 (Matinee)
Saturday 26 September, 6:30–9pm — Show 3
Saturday afternoon/evening also includes pack-out: returning gear and cleaning the hall after the final show.
Little Shapes note: as this is their first performance experience, Little Shapes will only perform in the Saturday matinee. We keep the lighting simple to give them a gentle introduction to the stage.
All other classes (Wild Shapes, Smooth Shapes, Big Shapes) perform in all three shows.
Running Order (per performance)
Each class performs in this order:
Matilda number (their shared song-and-dance)
Their own routine
Group finale — everyone together for a bow to "Everybody Laughs" (David Byrne)
Exception: Big Shapes are not performing a Matilda number this year — they go straight into their own routine, then the finale.
Full running order for all three shows: Running Order — Google Doc
The running order for each day will also be posted in the bathrooms and in the changing marquee at the back of the space.
Costume & Makeup — General (applies to everyone)
Every dancer is expected to arrive at the hall for each performance with hair and makeup as done as possible — while we also acknowledge that this is not everybody's strength! If you desperately need help applying eyeliner or lipstick to your child, please reach out to another member of your dance group for support.
Call times (dancers should arrive with hair and makeup already done at home, ready to get into costume and get organised):
Friday 25 Sept show — 5:30pm (does not apply to Little Shapes, who don't perform Friday)
Saturday matinee — 12:45pm (Little Shapes' only performance)
Saturday evening show — 6:00pm (does not apply to Little Shapes)
Eyeliner should already be on, and lipstick worn.
Lipstick colour range: nude through to red and pink.
No black lipstick, please.
Costume & Makeup — By Class
Little Shapes (ages 5–8)
Matilda number: black pants and a white T-shirt, or a white Throw Shapes T-shirt (available through the Throw Shapes merch page — link below).
Own routine ("Peanut Butter Jelly Song"): wear absolutely anything that makes you feel fabulous! Everyday clothes are completely fine — and if your dancer wants to come as a giant sparkly octopus, that's very welcome too.
Makeup: as this is this group's first show, we want them to feel comfortable and simply enjoy themselves. Please apply a light, easy version of the makeup above using whatever you have at home — this is about baby-stepping toward full performance wardrobe and makeup over time, not getting it "right."
If you need help finding a white T-shirt or black pants, reach out to your group or wider whānau — we can easily find spares for anyone.
Finale: wear absolutely anything you like.
Wild Shapes (ages 8–11)
Matilda number: black pants and a white T-shirt, or a white Throw Shapes T-shirt (merch page link below).
Own routine ("I Just Might"): blue suits with sparkly T-shirts, hair in space buns.
Hair: dancers can arrive with hair already in moon buns. If your dancer is also performing in the ballet show, they're welcome to arrive with their ballet hair instead — we'll have backstage support (a dance parent or one of our teenage dancers) to put hair into space buns before the performance.
Makeup: Milo will apply plant-based iridescent glitter from the upper eyelid up to the brow, after each dancer has finished their Matilda number.
Finale ("Everybody Laughs"): wear absolutely anything that feels awesome — Throw Shapes T-shirt, your "I Just Might" costume, even pyjamas. All shapes welcome.
Smooth Shapes (ages 11–13)
Matilda number: black pants and a white T-shirt, or a white Throw Shapes T-shirt (merch page link below).
Own routine ("Pathos Wings"): white top, white leggings, and a white skirt (kindly provided by Zoe Leach), plus wings and feather neck pieces (both provided).
Hair: Dutch braid for the Matilda number, then teased up into a more bird-like Viking braid between the Matilda dance and Pathos Wings.
Finale: wear absolutely anything on earth that makes you feel happy.
Big Shapes (ages 13–18)
Big Shapes are not performing a Matilda number this year.
Own routine: wear your performance gear from the Vast Dance Festival.
Finale: wear absolutely anything you like.
Merch page: white Throw Shapes T-shirts are available through the Kura merch page.
Backstage Support & Seating
We've asked capable, confident, and willing dancers from Big Shapes and Smooth Shapes to act as hair, makeup, and costume support for our younger dancers backstage. This is a great opportunity for your dancer to build relationships and lean on their team rather than their parents.
Where possible, we'd love parents to arrive with an excited dancer, take a seat, and watch your child fly on stage. If you feel your child needs extra support, please let Milo or Ali know ahead of time.
Seating: dancers will have seating at the back of the space to watch shows before and after their own performance, plus front-of-stage seating with cushions, beanbags, and mats for our younger dancers. Once your dancer has finished all their routines, they're welcome to come find you in the audience.
We've worked hard to build a schedule that suits everyone's age and experience. It's a big event for everyone — but we believe the kids are ready, and the support systems are in place to make it genuinely fun for both dancers and whānau.
Jobs Sheet — We Need Your Help!
Running a two-day, three-show event takes a village. We've put together a jobs sheet so whānau can pick up tasks that suit them — setting up chairs, helping clean the hall after performances, providing baking for the fundraising stall, helping with pack-in on Thursday, and pack-out after the final Saturday show.
It's a Google Sheet — just add your name next to any job you're able to help with.
Baking, Pack-In & Tech
Baking donations are very welcome — these go toward our interval fundraising stall, and we'll need baking for all three shows. #NO PEANUTS/CASHEWS. We have a student with a severe peanut allergy, and she definitely doesn't need that going off during showtime.
Please don't pack any peanut-related items in your dancers lunchbox, or put any in any baking.
Pack-in happens during the day on Thursday 24 September, ahead of that evening's tech/dress rehearsal.
Milo and Ali will be at Pōhara Hall from 9:00am Thursday, and pretty much throughout the whole weekend from there. If you have special times you need to drop things off, please contact Milo directly.
Musicians' tech rehearsal: Levity Beet will run their tech in the hour before each performance (possibly up to 90 minutes) — timing to be confirmed directly with Levity Beet.
The Waiata
Every year we open the show by singing a waiata together. This year we've chosen "Whakataka Te Hau," a well-known karakia that's easy to learn and beautiful to sing.
Our tamariki and rangatahi will perform the waiata on stage, with some singing the higher and lower harmonies. We invite everyone else to learn and sing the main melody with us.
Here's a great working version to learn from: Whakataka Te Hau
Tickets
Tickets are available now through Humanitix:
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