We’re on a roll…

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.

More Recent News

Caught out at the death

The financial strain of burying loved ones is becoming more evident, two Waipā funeral directors say. Waipā District Council has confirmed significant increases in burial-related fees for 2025-26 and 2026-27 in its 2025-2034 Long Term…

News in brief

Vehicles collide Police, ambulance and Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade all attended a crash involving two vehicles following a collision in Hamilton Road on Sunday afternoon. The vehicles collided about 550m west of St Andrew’s Anglican…

News in brief

Candidate withdraws Fabio Rodrigues has withdrawn as a Waikato district mayoral candidate throwing his support behind former deputy mayor Aksel Bech’s second all or nothing bid to be mayor and oust incumbent Jacqui Church. Rodrigues,…

Ten go to conference

Correction: The person pictured at the Local Government New Zealand conference awards dinner was Beca chief executive Amelia Linzey, not Ngā Iwi Toopu o Waipā’s Maria Huata (Kirikiriroa Kaunihera). The News apologises for the error….