Local non-governmental organisation Korero o te Orau’s Atui’anga ki te Tango senior students along with the Catholic Youth of Rarotonga will be performing a ‘Boom Shakalaka Youth Vibes’ New Year’s Eve concert this Friday, December 31.

The concert will take place at the National Auditorium Domes from 7pm until 12am and will feature a range of singing and dancing performances to ring in the New Year. Some of the kids have also been learning to DJ and will try their hand at DJ’ing for a crowd with the help of DJ Kokiri.

A time for praise and worship will also take place before the New Year arrives. Over 30 youth are confirmed to be taking part, but the stage will be open to anyone wanting to take the mic or show off their dance moves.

Tuaine Papatua, who has been guiding the students in their practice for the concert, says the preparation is going very well and he is very excited for the public to see what the youth have been working on to welcome the New Year.

The event came about through discussions that Papatua had had with some of the kids asking what their plans for New Year’s Eve were. A lot of them had nothing on and were planning on just hanging out with friends, wandering around, or being at home.

Papatua said: “We are just throwing them out there. There is so much happening on the island this time of year with so much drinking and partying. We just want a home for the young people to come together on the night and have fun.”

He hoped that through the event more youth would want to join the Atui’anga ki te Tango programme as they are always trying to develop the performing skills with the youth that they have with them.

“All of the kids are so talented and creative,” he said. The aim of the event is to bring positive words of encouragement to the performers and to build their confidence for future performances.

“We want to get the kids to come together, create a positive environment, and let the young people be young people.”