Polyfest 2009 - Māori Group
Polyfest 2009 - Samoan Group
Polyfest 2009 - Tongan Group
Polyfest 2008 - Tongan Group
Mt Roskill Grammar’s Tongan group kicked off this year with practices after school (even Saturdays), with 66 students taking part. Our Tutor this year was old friend Mafi Malanga, who was still happy to teach our representatives. As mentioned, practices after school were held and a lot of effort
and time were put in from both teachers and students.
Our Tongan crew this year was led by Nikita and Willy, plus co-leaders Sione and Nancy. Little did they know the Tongan group was about to be led to total victory. Mt Roskill was to go up against 15 other schools in the Polynesian Festival 2008 - a competition held every year to show the joy of traditional dance routines from the Pacific Islands. The two dance routines Mt Roskill chose to do were the Lakalaka and Fahai-ula, still holding the trophies we won last year for these two dances.
On this bright Friday afternoon of the Polyfest week, our Tongan crew first performed the Lakalaka that included both boys and girls. Excitement and joy filled the air around the group and smiling faces were switched on. “We felt the pride of our school placed upon our shoulders”, said a student, but most importantly we enjoyed it! Everything was going as planned when the girls performed their second item and the boys did their bit, by background singing along to the beautiful, elegant performance.
Once the girls were finished, we gladly gained the respect we wanted from the enormous crowd. Many more performances were left for the day, so our students enjoyed themselves, observing and secretly judging the other schools’ performances. In the end Mr Watson and a group of teachers came to support our team, not realising that large clouds were slowly moving in and sadly the hot blazing day ended cold and wet. On the bright side, all students were extremely glad and proud of
themselves for getting through both dance routines well and right on time. But of course teachers, tutors and students were waiting for the moment in which all the schools that participated would
find out their placings and scores. We would all have to wait as they would be announced the following day.
Saturday arrived and plenty more performances took place. Once again the sun was blazing across the sky. Everything went as expected and we were definitely heading on the right track. It was a very long day, but we hit 5:00p.m and each and every person was anxious to find out about the scores and results.
Fahai-ula. 2008 first place goes to………...Mt Roskill Grammar School!! All of the MRGS affiliates immediately began cheering. But of course that was only one dance, there was still the Lakalaka to be announced….. And the Lakalaka 2008 first place goes to…… Mt Roskill Grammar School. To no surprise, Roskill students were up on their feet astonished and completely WOWED by the victory. The students of MRGS’ Tongan group were relieved that it was over but overwhelmed by their success. We sincerely thank our tutor Mafi Malanga for all the hard work and time put aside just for MRGS’ Tongan Group 2008.
Polyfest 2008 - Samoan Group
For the first time in many years, the Samoan Group performed in consecutive years at this year’s Maori and Pacific Island Performing Arts Festival.
The organisation and leadership of the group was undertaken by Mrs Laupepa. Practices started in the second week of Term One. A gruelling schedule of 6 practices a week meant everyone was tested mentally and physically.
Student leaders Fetaui Evagelia, Susanna Robertson, Junior Matafai, Patrick Vaivai and Ricardo Asi-Pito shone in the lead up to the festival.
On the day, the group did themselves proud. There was much nervousness and anticipation. Out on stage, the group danced, smiled and performed with joy. The overall placing of eighth was a victory in itself. The first time in our group’s history that we had made the Top 10 in Auckland.
A big faafetai to Mrs Laupepa and her family for all their hard work. To all the students, thank you for your patience and devotion in representing our school. To next year’s Samoan Group, we wish you every success!!
Polyfest 2008 - Indian Group
This group is made up of students of Indian Origin. The main aim of this group is to develop and foster the Indian Culture through traditional and modern dances. The Polyfest team consisted of Rex, Siddharth, Ameen, Gurveer, Siva, Anish, Matthew, Tanay, Rashi, Vallari, Umamah, Harika, Surya, Smruti, Malvika, Nupur, Nive, Sayali, Shaneel, Shri, Purnima, Anish, Ragani, Davina, Krishna and Hayshal. This team performed 3 dances at the PolyFest and, although in the non-competition section, the organisers placed the team as one of the best of the day.
A smaller group consisting of Jay, Rex, Siddharth, Pretesh, Malvika, Nupur, Danisha, and Harneet took part in a new Secondary School Indian Dance Competition called ROCKERZ. Our team was placed second and won a substantial sum of money and a trophy.
The same group took part in the Bollywood Dance Competition called NAACH 2008. The audience were puzzled as to why our team was not placed in the top 3. The Hon. Minister of Education was present and he has written personal congratulatory letters to each of the participants. A big thanks goes to Jay Rajani, Siddharth Krishnamoorthy, and Rex Braganza for taking up the lead roles in preparation of the groups.