PERFORMING ARTS

Performing Arts is part of Iona College's Special Character and enhances our holistic approach to empowering girls for life. It helps develop many valuable skills in young people, from self-confidence through to fine motor skills. It teaches the appreciation of performance and expression while igniting one's imagination.  

Iona is the ideal school for any girl with creativity, enthusiasm and talent. As well as offering girls the opportunity to explore and enjoy a wide range of visual and performing arts classes, we have facilities that rival professional studios and venues.

Iona attracts teachers recognised for their expertise and girls enjoy regular opportunities to see professional performances and to learn from world-renowned authors, musicians and artists.

Rounding out the range of cultural activities on offer, Iona has a long tradition of success in debating, a small but proud Kapa Haka group, and we have access to a thriving private tuition programme for singing, contemporary and classical dance, learning musical instruments, speech and drama, and public speaking.​​​​​​​​​

Our extensive Performing Arts 
programme includes:



  • ​​​​​​​Choir 
  • Dance 
  • Debating ​​​​​​​
  • Drama / Theatre Clubs 



  • ​​​​​​​Kapa Haka 
  • Music 
  • Private Music/Singing Tuition 

​​​​​​​


  • Rock Bands 
  • Sheilah Winn Shakespeare 
  • Speech and Drama 

RECENT PERFORMING ARTS HIGHLIGHTS 

Showquest - Top Honours   

Showquest is a nationwide performing arts competition and a platform for youth voices. Students design, produce, and perform an original performance centred around an issue chosen by and important to them. This theme must be reflected through the six elements of Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Culture and Technology. 

Iona College made a stunning debut at Showquest 2025 with AI and I, a powerful piece which explored the complex relationship between students and AI. They were proud and deserving recipients of the top regional title along with other significant awards :   

2025 Senior Regional Winner  
2025 Regional Public Speaking Award for presentation of theme 
2025 Regional Recognition in Music
2025 Regional Excellence in Dance
2025 Regional Student Leadership Award for Musical Composition and Arrangement
2025 Regional Recognition in Technology for Video Wall

Grease Is The Word ​

A highlight for senior students is a full-scale musical theatre production, combining acting, singing and dancing. Every two years, Iona students  — either independently or in collaboration with Lindisfarne College —have brought iconic shows to the stage, including Godspell, Les Misérables, Once On This Island, Fame, and Chicago. 

In 2024, our students rock and rolled to the 1950s classic, Grease, performing to five sell-out shows!  The production featured incredible vocal talent from our lead performers and a dynamic supporting cast that filled the stage with energy and excitement.   

Kapa Haka at Iona  

Our Kapa Haka group proudly took to the stage at the Napier Municipal Theatre opening the 2025 regional kapa haka competition Te Haaro o Te Kaahu with the Iona waiata written by Whaea Skye.

Whaea Skye, an experienced Te Reo Māori, and Kapa Haka teacher, joined Iona College at the beginning of  the year and is passionate about encouraging students to actively engage and celebrate the vibrancy of  Māori culture.


Sheilah Winn Shakespeare  

Iona College students have been entering the Regional Festival of the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand since 2013 and selected to represent Hawke’s Bay at the National Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival - SGCNZ for seven consecutive years.

The festival gives young people a springboard to show their talent and bring new approaches to Shakespeare; it encourages students to explore the richness of language, have fun with figures of speech, delve into literature and develop the expression of their creative art.

Following her outstanding portrayal of Brutus at the National Festival, Year 12 student Taygen Elliott, was awarded the opportunity to travel to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London as part of the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company.  

Dance NZ Made Champions

Dance NZ Made is an interschool competition run throughout the country which celebrates the strength, diversity and passion of dance in NZ. In August 2023, Iona dancers competed in the regional finals held at Toitoi, with multiple entries across all age groups and categories. The girls delivered incredible performances with creative flair, technical ability and professionalism, scooping numerous awards, including the Overall Hawke's Bay Championship Award in the Duo/Trio and placed second in the Overall Hawke's Bay Teams Award.

The only 'Excellence in Choreography Award' went to Grace Pritchard for her Open Jazz Choreography, a huge accomplishment with a 10/10 awarded from both judges.

Five outstanding Iona dancers were also awarded Golden Tickets and a chance to compete for ten $1000 scholarships at the Nationals, an outstanding achievement.