Fabulous presentations from the 26 Te Mire Ura dancers at Rehab Nightclub on Friday night drew thunderous applause from the audience who enjoyed an evening of dazzling performances from local and expatriate dancers.

There was tough competition in the Experts Female section between Kathleen Bond and Jamie Short.

Bond brought the “wow” factor in her fast beat performance blowing away the audience and taking home the champion trophy.

Reigning champions Tupa Tupa also thrilled the crowd with his exceptional performance, again going home with the trophy in the Male Expert division.

Pip Hansen, the new champion in the Expatriates Female section, was just spectacular on stage. She was a delight to watch, singing along to her Maori song with smooth and graceful movements.

Coached by former Expert female dance champion Alana Short, Hansen’s fantastic fast beat performance was one of the best seen in the Expat’s section for a long time.

New to Te Mire Ura stage, first timer Daru Graham put on a dazzling performance in the Masters Female section. She was elegant in the slow beat and thundering in the fast beat.

Reigning Masters female champion, the beautiful, graceful and polished Mata Arnold again went home with the trophy after yet another outstanding performance.

It was also heartening to see 10 brave entries in the Expatriates section, there were only two in the Golden Oldies and five entrants in the Experts sections.

Results

The results are as follows: Expatriates section: Parmesh Naidu (Male) - Pacific Resort Hotel Group, Pip Hansen (Female) - Tapere Muri/Oire Ngatangiia; Golden Oldies (only two female competitors) 1^st Peka Takai George and 2^nd Mona Henderson. Masters: Females 1^st Mata Arnold, 2^nd Daru Graham, 3^rd Lotiola Mateariki; Males 1^st Phillip Strickland, 2^nd Pozo Ngaroi. Experts: Females 1^st Kathleen Bond, 2^nd Jamie Short, 3^rd Tiare Mailau; Males 1^st Tupa, 2^nd Kaumoana Joe.

Following are Te Mire Ura competitors who performed on Friday night at Rehab Nightclub, in order of appearance.

Expatriates section: Baia Tutu - Revenue Management/Fiji/Kiribati,  Jacob Rakoroui - Little Poly/Pacific Resort Hotel Group, Pip Hansen - Tapere muri/Oire Ngatangiia, Joan Cecilia Wong - Rehab Nightclub, Greg Parker - Oire Matavera/Cook Islands Television; Pip Hansen - Tapere Muri/Oire Ngatangiia; Representing the Pacific Resort Hotel Group -  Augustini Tamba, Theresa Margaret Gomesh, Keleva Ratu, Parmesh Naidu, Mererai Marama         .

Golden Oldies 60+ years: Only two women joined this year – Peka Takai George and Mona Henderson.

Masters (47 -59 years): Joanne Lewis - Ariki Adventures, Puapua Inano McMurchy - Ngati Kaena, Lorna Nicholas - Cool Kebabs, Pozo Ngaroi - Oire Takuvaine, Ngatokoitu Daniels - Vaka Takitumu, Daru Graham - BCI/CC Tamure, Lotiola Mateariki - Mauke Enua, Mata Arnold - Aitutaki enua/ Akauka Time. Phillip Strickland - Tupapa Maraerenga - Tupapa Maraerenga Cultural Arts Club.

Experts (30 -46 years): Tiare Mailau - Rarotonga /CC Tamure, Jamie Short - Vaka Takitumu, Kaumoana Joe            - Tongareva henua, Kathleen Bond - Araura enua/CC Tamure, Tupa - Rarotonga.