Dance with Nana boosts confidence

Improved self-confidence is one of the many benefits Rarotonga children are gaining through dance lessons provided by Japanese expatriate dance teacher Nana Hirata.

A passionate dancer herself with years of dance training, it was a huge delight for Hirata to see her hip hop crew of adult and children dancers bust their moves at the recent Sevens in Heaven rugby tournament.

The performance by the children at the rugby sevens tournament was a dream come true for Hirata who had the vision of including kids in her dance crew for the sevens tournament at last year’s event when she and the ‘swag it crew’ entertained the crowds.

“I had this vision then of including kids in the crew and that’s really why I started my dance lessons for kids in February this year,” says Hirata.

“So watching them perform at the 7s was like my dream come true, and it was hard trying not to cry during the performance!”

Hirata is now set to run another five weeks of dance lessons for Rarotonga kids aged 4 to 13.

The lessons run once a week on Fridays at the Top Shape Gym studio in Taputapuatea from 2.30pm for an hour for kids aged 4 to 7 and from 3.30pm for kids aged 8 and over.

“Most of the children in the class have been dancing with me since the very first class and it’s amazing to see how much they have progressed as dancers, and how much they have grown as a person,” says the dedicated dance teacher.

“Some were so shy they couldn’t come up and say hello to me and now they are like, ‘look at me!’” says Hirata.

Even the kids’ class (4 to 7 year olds) have amazing ability to focus for the entire 45 minute classes and learn complicated choreography. They did a fantastic job at the 7s as ‘Nu Stepz!’

Hirata says she watches with joy how passionate the kids are about dancing and how much happiness they get from being able to express themselves through dance.

“The performance at the 7s has given them the great sense of accomplishment and I can see they are much more confident even in everyday life.”

Hirata says she is grateful to all the parents who have been so committed and supportive of her and to the Sevens in Heaven organisers for giving her students the opportunity to showcase their dance skills.

The next five weeks of dance lessons will be focused towards the group’s final performance at the ‘Christmas in the market’ event on December 18.

Parents interested in enrolling your kids in this fantastic dance programme can contact Nana Hirata at dance.rarotonga@gmail.com or just rock up to Top Shape on Friday with your kids and their dancing gear.