3 June 2011
Auckland
‘Dancing Granny’ Jets to Stardom
NZ YouTube sensation Melva Cummins flies Jetstar to Perth to star in music video
Tauranga’s ‘Dancing Granny’ Melva Cummins, 82, will return to Perth as a star after being discovered by a music
management agency while dancing at a Perth festival last month. Mrs Cummings moves were caught on camera, the video has
become a YouTube sensation and media on both sides of the Tasman have tracked her down.
Mrs Cummings has been asked to perform at a live concert and appear in a music video for an Australian band, the Brow Horn Orchestra on 11 June 2011. A search was instigated for Mrs Cummings by the band’s music management company after she was seen
dancing at the Stretch Festival in Mandurah while visiting friends in Perth recently.
After an appeal for sponsorship on TV3’sCampbell Live programme on the evening of 2 June, Jetstar came forward with an
offer of flights for Mrs Cummings to travel back to Perth, allowing her to seize the opportunity of a lifetime.
Jetstar Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar said “We loved seeing Mrs Cummings dance, this is someone who just loves
to have a good time and this resonates with our team spirit here at Jetstar.
“We wanted to help Melva jet back to Australia and have some more fun; we also thought her family would want to be there
with her when she makes her stage debut!
“We hope it will be a family holiday to remember.”
News of Jetstar’s support reached Mrs Cumming’s today and had her dancing on the spot.
“I was so happy to hear the news that Jetstar arranged flights for me and my family, my feet just took over - I was
dancing all the way to my suitcase to start packing.
“I never thought my moves in Mandurah would see me starring in a music video.”
Mrs Cummings and her family will fly from Auckland to Perth for three nights courtesy of Jetstar.
ENDS