New Zealand Academy of Highland & National Dancing

Executive Council and the Technical Committee are pleased to present a webinar for members “Judge Ready - Your Pathway to Highland Dance Adjudication”.
This webinar will be hosted by Kimberley Mavor and Elizabeth Smith and is aimed at probationary judges and members aspiring to become judges.
The webinar will cover judging systems and strategies, answer queries via the live chat and will incorporate some practical judging via video.
Email [email protected] to enrol. The zoom link will be emailed out once payment is received.

Reminder of the upcoming webinar - "Judge Ready - your pathway to Highland Dance Adjudication, on Sunday 3rd May at 7pm.
If you are interested in attending please email the Academy secretary [email protected], cost is $20

Executive Council and the Technical Committee are pleased to present a webinar for members “Judge Ready - Your Pathway to Highland Dance Adjudication”.

This webinar will be hosted by Kimberley Mavor and Elizabeth Smith and is aimed at probationary judges and members aspiring to become judges.

The webinar will cover judging systems and strategies, answer queries via the live chat and will incorporate some practical judging via video.

Email [email protected] to enrol. The zoom link will be emailed out once payment is received.

Applications are now open for the Highland Dance Company of New Zealand!

Dancers must be aged 14 years or older, or have successfully passed their Grade 5 examination.

Auditions will be held on Monday 13 July in Blenheim following the NZ Championships weekend. Video auditions are available if you are unable to be in Blenheim.
Applications close on Monday 18 May.

Application forms are available on the Academy website, nzahnd.org.nz/Resources, downloads

Resources The page you tried to visit has either been moved, deleted, or never existed. To assist with locating the information you are looking for we have displayed the sitemap for the website below.

Last weekend in Christchurch The NZ Academy of Highland & National Dancing conducted the Step Dance section of the Academy Technical Training Course, with Tutors Adele Swanson and Elizabeth Smith

Reminder: “Spring into 2026” Webinar with Mike Stevenson – Sunday, 16 November at 7 PM
This is a friendly reminder to join us for our upcoming “Spring into 2026” Webinar with Mike Stevenson, Clinical Director and Physiotherapist, Christchurch Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic, on practical ways for dancers to keep healthy and stay fit while enjoying the summer break.
🗓 Date: Sunday, 16th November 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM
💲 Cost: $20
👉 Register now by emailing the Academy Secretary at [email protected].

Executive and Technical Committee are delighted to bring our members and the wider highland dance community another exciting webinar.

Hosted by Mike Stevenson, clinical director and physiotherapist at Christchurch Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic, “SPRING INTO 2026” will focus on staying fit and healthy through the summer holiday break ensuring dancers are well prepared and conditioned for both summer schools and the start of the 2026 dance year.

This webinar will be a practical demonstration and is suitable for teachers and open to any dancers from the age of 10 years upwards. We ask teachers to please share this opportunity with their dancers who are encouraged to participate and join in the exercises demonstrated from home. Parents are welcome to join in with their dancers too!

The fee for the webinar is $20. Please email the Secretary, [email protected] to register and pay your $20 into the NZ Academy of Highland & National Dancing account 02 0644 0041107 00. The link will be sent to you on the 13th November.

2025 Conference photos are now available to download from the NZ Academy website www.nzahnd.org.nz - Gallery

With conference only a few days away here is a reminder of timings for the weekend.

Friday
5.00pm Bus leaves Trinity Wharf for Bethlehem College
5.50pm Everyone to be seated
6.00pm Solo Seal commences
8.30pm Approximate finishing time of Solo Seal
8.45pm Bus departs back to Trinity Wharf
8.45pm Youth function
Saturday
8.00am Youth Forum
8.00am Exam Organisers meeting
9.10am Morning tea
9.30am Annual General Meeting and Forum
12.45pm Bus leaves for dancers workshops
6.00pm Dinner
Sunday
7.30am Breakfast
9.00am Workshops commence

Please remember to bring your membership card to the AGM, either printed or on your phone.

Look forward to seeing you all in Tauranga

Hybrid sessions at Conference
Just a reminder that Executive Council and the Technical Committee are offering 4 Hybrid sessions via zoom at this years conference.
Saturday
1.00-2.00pm – “Champion Eyes” – Judging workshop
Sunday
9.00- 10.00am – Attacking the Sword Dance workshop
10.15 – 11.15am – Lengthen and Strengthen workshop
11.25 – 12.10 pm – Guest speaker – Teresa Victory – “Overuse injuries and load management

To qualify for upskilling you must attend all four sessions.

Cost is $150.

Please email [email protected] if you would like to attend by 17th September, so the zoom links can be sent out