Festive fun and variety
Thousands thronged to the Greerton Village's Christmas Variety Show last night to enjoy a bonanza of young music talent, topped off with the arrival of Santa.
Compere and popular New Zealand entertainer Jackie Clarke kept everything bouncing along, including her inspired rendition of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's version of Pokarekare Ana.
The show, which replaces the Santa Parade, succeeded in generating a really festive atmosphere in the Greerton village Square, helped by some food stalls.
Organiser Greerton Mainstreet manager Victoria Thomas did not have to carry out her threat of doing the chicken dance if numbers reached 5000.
Instead about 3000 people soaked up the atmosphere of the show which throbbed with a feast of musical talent from Greerton and the the rest of Tauranga - including school choirs, bands and dance troupes.
"It is growing in popularity every year," Ms Thomas said.
One of the feature acts was the all-boys hip hop group from the Rhythms Dance Company. Led by arch wizard Tee Jay, the boys' compelling routine held the crowd spellbound.
The dance company has 630 students ranging from 2-year-olds to adults. A big star of the hip hop performance was little Fletcher Treadaway.
Entry was free but people were asked to bring a non-perishable food item to support the Bay of Plenty Times' Christmas Appeal - the Tauranga Community Foodbank. The show finished at 8.30pm.John Cousins
