From Ballet to Hip Hop: Blake and Fern Inspire Through Dance
Coromind is proud to feature two incredible young dancers from our region! Blake Gifford-Hill from Whitianga and Fern Paki from Thames are making waves in the dance world, and we’re here to celebrate their talent and dedication. Dance offers so much more than just movement – it helps children develop creativity, confidence and coordination, all while fostering discipline and teamwork. Blake and Fern are shining examples of how the arts can shape a child’s growth!
Fern Paki (Thames Hauraki Dance Theatre)
Kia ora koutou, ko Fern Paki tōku ingoa, I’m 10 years old and I live in Thames.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to dance. When I was younger, I would watch people dancing on YouTube. It inspired me: the beautiful costumes, the way they fly through the air doing a grand jeté in ballet, the interpretive and fluidity of contemporary dance or the street style moves that give hip-hop its edgy style of dance.
I really wanted to do ballet, I would practise ballet moves every day! My mama finally gave in and took me to my first ballet lesson when I was 6. I remember I sat at the back and just watched the dancers, I wouldn’t take part, I just watched everything they were doing! Then I went home and practised and practised what they had been doing. I went back the next week and joined in, I knew what I was doing and I loved it! I’ve been doing ballet ever since, I also do contemporary dance and hip hop classes.
Any style of dancing involves a lot of hard work and hours of practice; we spend 12 months practising the same routines and syllabus for our Ballet Exams. I’ve just sat my Grade 4 exam, which means we get to start learning new material for Grade 5 which is always exciting.
It also means we get to start practising for the end-of-year shows – these are my favourite. I love the shows and I love being on stage. Lots of hard work goes into the shows – the costumes, props, hours of rehearsals and dress rehearsals – but it’s all worth it when you’re up on the stage, the curtain is pulled and you start to dance. The end-of-year shows bring together the whole dance school – coming together with the younger and older dancers is really cool. I look up to the older dancers and am always in awe of them on stage, thinking that one day that will be me.
As well as dancing, I love to play netball, tennis, touch and do Pilates. I’d also love to give jazz dance lessons a go one day.
Ngā mihi
Fern Paki
Blake Gifford-Hill (En Pointe Dance Studio – Whitianga)
Hi, my name is Blake, I am seven years old and I have spent my whole life living in Whitianga, more specifically inside En Pointe Dance Studios.
I love to sing and dance. I cannot sit still, I am always dancing around, practising my acro tricks, cartwheels and walkovers, they are just so fun to do. Who needs to walk around on your feet when you can be upside down. My favourite styles of Dance are Acro and Hip Hop. I learn ballet, tap and jazz as well, with classes each week.
My mum and I go on many adventures all around NZ for dancing and I have even competed in Australia at Follow Your Dreams Nationals in Adelaide January 2023 and Evolution Dance Competition January 2024 on the Gold Coast. I was only five years old when I competed in Adelaide. I received my first ever sash as an encouragement award, I was so excited. My favourite dance moment from the Gold Coast was making the top 10 in the championship. I have recently qualified to go to both of these nationals events next year.
I like competing as I get to make new friends and they become part of my dance family. I love having fun on the stage when I perform, though it can be hard putting on my make up before 7 am on a cold morning. I don’t always like practising but I do know that hard work pays off. I remember when I danced my hip hop so full out in competition in Taupo, it was the best I’d ever performed and it felt so amazing! I was so tired afterwards.
In the future I want to sing, dance and perform and be like my mum. For now, I love being part of the En Pointe Dance Family. After finishing our exams in August, it is time for the best part of our year, the show!! I can’t wait to perform at home with all my friends.
En Pointe Dance Studio’s End of Year Show – December 7th & 8th!
Tickets available here from November.
