A Richmond School dance group have picked up national honours at the annual Jump Jam competition.
Jump Jam is a fusion of dance and fitness disciplines, with schools purchasing a licence to specifically choreographed routines.
Richmond School competed at the Nelson Tasman competition in August, earning themselves a spot at both the South Island and national comp on 1 November.
Their team Hey Babes were awarded first place in the Year 5-6 Advance category, while Geronimo Groovers took out first place in Year 5-6 Xtreme, which also placed them fourth nationally, following the North Island event the following weekend.
Richmond teacher and one of the team coaches, Jenna Maher, says training began way back in Term 2.
“Both of our senior Jump Jam teams put in an incredible amount of effort leading up to nationals.”
She says the commitment from these students was outstanding.
“They trained before school, on weekends, and even during the holidays to perfect their routines. At nationals, they didn’t just perform, they brought their own flair through choreography, costuming, and technical execution.
“Seeing them on stage was an absolute highlight; their energy, teamwork, and passion for Jump Jam really shone through.”
On behalf of the coaching team, which consisted of Jenna, Glenna Armstrong, Nicole Andrews and Oliva Johnston, she thanked Richmond School principal Tim Brenton along with the wider school community.
“We have been competing at nationals since 2019, and with previous podium finishes, it’s exciting to see the continued growth and success of our teams. We’re already looking forward to regionals in Nelson next year.”
Nelson’s Birchwood School also competed for the first time, taking away three certificate of merit in the Year 3-4 category.
