Southland The Ensign There were sparkly dresses, colourful tutus and tassels galore at the Gore Town & Country Club on Saturday when it hosted the 18th Southland Festival of Dance. Ninety dancers, including dozens of students, took part in the event, which was split into junior, youth, adult and master categories. The dancers performed about 80 dance numbers, in genres including the waltz, tango, foxtrot, samba, cha cha and jive, in a mix of solos and duets. In his opening address, Gore District Mayor Ben Bell, who also judged the school competition, said dance had a role to play in the community. "Southland has always been a community that values patience, creativity and supporting one another and today is a perfect reflection of that," he said. The event was organised by Gore Dancesport in association with Rachel’s Studio of Dance. Studio owner Rachel Wilson said she had taken the school pupils under her wing for eight weeks. "I go ... to the schools and teach for free for the first term .....…