SunLive Competition

@Heart is an organisation that is close to Inzpire dance company director Mila Barach’s heart, and she wanted to do something to help.

“Two of the girls I teach at the dance studio have heart conditions, and my cousin has been through a really tough time with a hole in her heart. It is something that affects a lot of people and Bay of Plenty has the highest number of children with heart problems.”

Mila’s dance company, Inzpire, will perform ‘Moments’—a show that Mila says features a mix of jazz, contemporary dance and hip-hop, to take the audience “through a journey of dance expressed through the 'moments' we have in everyday life”.

Inzpire dance company began in 2009 as a way for Bay of Plenty dancers who had moved beyond stage shows to do something more.

“Their talents were being wasted, and this is a way to use it up,” Mila says.

Mila says the company runs like an agency, where the whole company or just a few dancers can be hired out to clients. They performed for @Heart in 2010 at the Bay of Plenty Heart Stopper event, performing dances between 10 to 12 teams running into ice cold water. 

Mila says her growing relationship with the organisation has inspired her to do something to raise awareness.

“We want to do something to be part of the community for things that need support. Money from every ticket sold will go towards them and we will have a display in the foyer so people can find out about it. I really wanted to really give them a platform so people are aware of the organisation.”

Members in the company range in ages from 15 to 33, with a full company of 14 dancers. While Mila is the head choreographer, she says everyone has had an input on the show.

“It depends on the dancers with the show, but at least 20 per cent is input from everyone. We have been working together solidly on this show for five months and we work together as a team. I definitely encourage people to say ‘hey, I have a cool idea’.”

Win: Go in the draw to win a double pass to the January 21 production of Inzpire’s Moments with SunLive. Entrants must be aged 18 years or over. To enter, you must be logged in, if you are new click here to register for free!

Competition Results

Grant Harrison
Tauranga