Have-a-Go Dance: Nine Fridays, Three Styles, One Pretty Cool Group of Teens

Got a teen at home who’s been eyeing dance from the sidelines but isn’t sure they’re “the dance type”? We’ve got something for them.

This autumn, Have-a-Go Dance is rolling out as a one-off, no-pressure dance programme for ten teens aged 13–16. Nine Friday afternoons, three styles to try (hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz), and pizza at the end of every single session. Yes, every single one.

Here’s the deal

From 20 April to 3 July 2026, we’ll be meeting up on Friday afternoons from 3:30–5:00pm for nine classes — three sessions each of hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz. After each class, we’ll hang out, eat some kai, and chat. Because dancing your heart out and then immediately leaving feels weird, and pizza is the universal language of “stick around.”

It’s completely free, thanks to support from Kaipara Dance School, the Rodney Community Team, and the Rodney Local Board.

What makes this one a bit different

This isn’t your standard sign-up-and-show-up dance class. A few things we’re doing on purpose:

It’s teen-led. Two teen dancers will be teaching the lessons and the choreography to the rest of the group. Chantelle is facilitating, but the teaching is in the hands of the teens themselves. That’s the whole point — we’re trying to build something here, not just run a class.

Half the spots are saved for beginners. We genuinely mean it when we say “have-a-go.” Around half of the teens we’re aiming to bring in are completely new to dance, and we’re actively reaching out to different parts of the community.

There’s a performance at the end. Nothing flashy. Just a low-key showcase for friends and family in the last session, where the teens get to share what they’ve put together. A win-the-day moment, not a stage-fright moment.

What’s so great about it?

Dance does a lot of quiet work. It builds coordination and confidence in your body. It gives you a way to express stuff you don’t have words for yet. It connects you to people you wouldn’t otherwise meet. And teaching dance to other people? That’s a whole other layer of self-worth and leadership that doesn’t always come up in everyday life.

When you put a mixed group of teens together, feed them, let them move, and let them lead — good things tend to happen. They make friends across groups they’d never normally cross paths with. They figure out they’re more capable than they thought. And the ones doing the teaching grow in ways that are hard to plan for.

Want in?

If you know a teen between 13 and 16 who’d love this — whether they’ve been dancing for years or have literally never tried — get in touch. We’ve got ten spots, and we’re especially keen to hear from teens and families who might not usually find their way into a programme like this.

Contact Arwen for general info: arwen@rodneycommunity.org.nz