Dance

Showquest 2023

Rose Wearing & Starla Hubber - Choreographers for 2023

Rehearsals are well underway 

                                                                          Showquest Rehearsal 2023 above

                                                                                  Showquest 2022

Vanessa Gallagher - Choreographer

Vanessa has been a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) student for many years now. She is currently learning her final exam for RAD, Advanced 2, with Marilyn Cassidy’s School of Dance. Vanessa has been passionate about dance since she was very young and has taken part in jazz and tap, but ballet has always been her personal favourite. Throughout her dance career, Vanessa has participated in competitions around the region and through these, she has had the opportunity to receive a scholarship for a summer intensive at Canterbury Ballet, where she also danced as an affiliate in 2020. Vanessa has learned so much during her time as a dancer and has been inspired by past pupil, Emma Hutton, to put this knowledge to use by giving back to her community through choreography. Last year Vanessa had the privilege of choreographing the school’s production of Little Shop of Horrors and was able to produce some choreography for the Alexandra Musical Society’s production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which, unfortunately, was cancelled due to covid. Last year, she was also able to help choreograph Dunstan’s first Showquest performance with former pupil, Maia Adams. Vanessa really enjoyed the process of Showquest and with support from co-choreographer, Rose Wearing, can’t wait for their performance this year!  

Rose Wearing - Choreographer

Rose, like Vanessa, has been a Royal Academy of Dance student for many years. She started ballet when she was 4 years old and has been dancing with Marylin Cassidy since then. Rose is currently learning Advanced 2 for her final RAD exam and also assists Marilyn in a younger class once a week. Rose has been competing around the Otago region since a young age predominantly doing ballet with a bit of jazz and contemporary. In 2019 she received a scholarship to a summer intensive at Canterbury Ballet and from there she danced as an affiliate throughout 2020. Recently Rose has also received a scholarship to En Pointe a ballet school in Wellington which she will attend throughout term two. Last year Rose danced in Showquest and absolutely loved it and she can’t wait to choreograph it this year along with Vanessa Gallagher.