Timaru Takes on the World… In Dancing
A plucky team of Timaru museum staff is set to represent New Zealand, in dancing, and they’re asking for the whole
country to get behind them by voting online.
The twinkle-toed team of the South Canterbury Museum recently bopped to victory in the New Zealand heat of the 5th
International Museum Dance Off. Unlike Dancing with the Stars, this contest did not require live performances, instead
the museum team had to submit a video of them dancing in their museum.
In keeping with their current 70s music exhibition the team pulled out their old The Sweet vinyl and Ballroom Blitz’ed
their way to victory. You can check out the no-budget seat-of-your-pants fun extravaganza here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6L2TMvJE30
After seeing off strong competition from four other New Zealand museums, they will now face off against competitors from
around the globe in the ‘International Thunderdome’ round:
• AUSTRALIA: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
• UKRAINE: Kamianets-Podilskyi Museum
• UK: Brooklands Museum
• CANADA: Glanmore National Historic Site
• USA: Science Museum of Virginia
• MEXICO: Instituto de Investigaciones Culturales - Museo de la UABC
• NEW ZEALAND: South Canterbury Museum
Voting is open for 24 hours on Tuesday 15 May from 12:01am to midnight at whenyouworkatamuseum.com and multiple votes count.
South Canterbury Museum Director, Philip Howe, said that what they lacked in both dancing and technical skills they made
up in spades with charm and humour.
“What started out as a ‘we should do this one year’ thing, turned into a ‘let’s give it a go it this year’ thing, and is
a now a ‘y’know, we might have a real chance of winning this’ thing.
“It’s not often that a little museum gets to represent New Zealand, so we’re asking the whole country, to get behind our
team and help us bring this title home.
“It’s apparently going to be the last ever International Museum Dance off, so it’s now or never New Zealand!”
The title is won through a simple online ballot and multiple votes count, so the team is counting on everyone from New
Zealand pulling out their phones or tablets next Tuesday and voting repeatedly for South Canterbury Museum.
“We may not have the population advantage that other countries have, but everyone knows everyone else and we can
mobilise the whole country to support noble causes, such as this dancing competition.
“This win won’t deliver millions in tourism dollars or an uptick in exports, but it will cement our place in the
pantheon of museum dancing greats.”