For a night of cultural entertaining extravaganza, watch 17 dancers showcase their skills on stage at Te Mire Ura Expatriates, Masters and Experts cultural dancing competition which kicks off tonight at Rehab Nightclub.

Joining for the first time is Puapua Inano Mcmurchy who will be performing in the Masters section.

Since moving back home 20 years ago, every time the dance competition came up, she would say, “I’m going to do it… and every time I kept missing it.”

This time around she said she was “brave” enough to register for the annual competition and is excited to be representing Titama in Matavera.

Growing up in a family of dancers, Tatiana Paulo is excited to be on stage again representing her home island of Araura Enua in the Experts category.

Paulo grew up in Tahiti and moved back to Cook Islands over 10 years ago. “Dancing is like reconnecting with my family, going back to the ‘pito’, the bloodlines of my family.”

The theme for all cultural activities this year is “Te au Vairakau Tupuna o toku Matakeinanga/Enua, the Traditional Medicine of my Community/Island”. Dancers must portray the theme in their items.

This year the Experts section will have new trophies for the female and male champions, proudly sponsored by current Experts dance champion Alana Short and her family.

The Expatriate section will feature Shannon Dixon and Marlon Rebellos.

Robert Ioaba, the Ministry of Culture national events manager, said: Again, we look forward to another exciting evening with our dancers showing their talent in the richness of our Cook Islands dance and culture.”

Masters (47 -59 years) Slow beat x 5, Fast Beat x 5. In order of appearance: Lawrencia Williams - Tamure Cook Islands and Manihiki Henua, Nga Daniel - Araura Enua, Puapua Inano Mcmurchy - Titama Matavera, Pozo Ngaroi -Takuvaine, Puna Strickland - Teauotonga, Tina Mummy Rimatutu - Araura CC Tamure, Nooroa Ngametua - Mangaia, Lotiola Mateariki - Akatokamanava, Rebecca Ellis - Oire Nikao.

Experts (30 - 46 years) Slow beat x 6, Fast beat x 6. In order of appearance: Pare Kaveao - Vaka Takitumu, Pongi Oti - Mauke Enua, Uirangi Bishop - Araura Enua & CC Tamure, Tupa - Tereora College, Tatiana Paulo - Aitutaki Enua/Vaka Puaikura, Akaiti Purea - Mauke Enua.

Tickets are selling at $10 (door sales at Rehab Nightclub) while pre-paid tickets are $5. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.