The MAGS Unity concert was held at the Dorothy Winstone Centre at Auckland Girls Grammar on Friday, July 9 before a packed and enthusiastic audience.
More than 220 students from various cultural groups performed with passion and commitment to the delight of an audience that showed their appreciation for the skill and authenticity of each of the groups.
You can watch a video of the full concert here
The evening was opened by the Kapa Haka group, who performed a selection of items from their stellar Polyfest bracket finishing with the new MAGS Haka, Takatū, especially written for the school by Whaea Waimirirangi Paul and Matua Peter Walters.
Then the Chinese group performed giving a display of Chinese culture at its finest.
After that, the Cook Island girls, exquisitely dressed in an array of colour and flowers, performed with delicate grace and style.
Following this, Year 12 dance performed a contemporary Fijian dance full of rhythm with constantly changing formations, taught to them by Albertian Nathan Waqalevu.
Next up was the Indian group, who delighted the audience with the sheer colour and spectacle of the costuming and Bollywood movement in a dance that took the audience through the highlights of the many festivals of India.
The Niuean group, also beautifully costumed and prepared, performed traditional dances, clearly showing their love for the Niuean culture.
The huge Tongan group performed a traditional Lakalaka and then the Year 13 performers gave a passionate performance in their final dance for the school, with parents joining them onstage at the end.
The final group was the Samoan group.
Director of Arts Co-Curricular Jacqui Cesan said, “The choreography, synchronicity and performance by this huge group was a wonderful way to end an evening that was simply outstanding and clearly showed the joy that the students felt in sharing their different cultures with the MAGS community.
“Huge thanks must go to the leaders, Albertians, tutors and students of the groups for such a wonderful display.”
