It’s nearly time to dust off your best suits and don your fancy dresses, because the ever-popular biennial Dancing for Life Education evening is less than two weeks away.

The event promises to impress yet again as 10 couples from the community take the stage with an audience of over 500 in attendance, all in the name of fundraising for the charity helping to educate local schoolchildren.

Life Education Trust Eastern Bay of Plenty chairperson John Spring said it was shaping up to be another fantastic event on the Whakatāne calendar, with a dress rehearsal at the weekend making the night seem all the more real.

“They just looked fantastic. There was a lot of excitement. Everybody was a bit nervous because it’s getting close now.”

For three months, the novice dance partners have been receiving lessons from professionals Ellie Smith and Troy Smith to make sure they have their fancy footwork down pat ahead of the big night on November 30.

Many of the pairings were little more than strangers before they signed up for the competition.

Their formal dress rehearsal on Friday, November 29, is when dancers will trade flat ground for the real deal; Whakatāne War Memorial Hall’s raised stage.

Mr Spring said a few injuries had cropped up during the course of the practices, but they had been carefully managed and had not struck anyone out of the competition.

Taking the stage next weekend will be Amanda Johnstone and Calvin Kingi, sponsored by Whakatāne ITM, dancing a rumba; Laney Huia and Rodney Marston, sponsored by Whenua Honey, dancing a samba; Emmy Walker and Mikaere October, sponsored by Davies Contracting, dancing a jive; Sarah Bluett and Kieran Watkins, sponsored by 1XX, dancing a foxtrot; and Jenny Hicks and Hilton Power, sponsored by EastBay Specialist Centre, dancing a paso doble.

They will be joined by Michelle Oswald and Dermott Sweeney, sponsored by Property Brokers Whakatāne, dancing the quick step; Hannah Thompson and Angus Drury, sponsored by Noble Entertainment Group and Harcourts Whakatāne, dancing the tango; Mel Jobe and Travis Baxter, sponsored by Sun FM, dancing the cha cha; Monique Cory and Lawrence Lewis, sponsored by Altruck and Machinery Services, dancing the Waltz; and Alex Berntsen and Mike Branch, sponsored by Haddock Spray Painters, dancing the Viennese waltz.

And with local legend LJ Dobbin from 1XX as MC, guests are sure to be in for a hoot.

Tickets are available across three tiers, comprising gold tables, silver tables and glamstand mezzanine seating.

Award-winning caterers Kerr and Ladbrook are back again with delicious offerings, including herb crusted chicken roulade wrapped in bacon and 14 hour braised beef cheek dishes for the gold tables, braised pork belly and salads for the silver tables, and scrumptious desserts for both.

The glamstand won’t go hungry either, with charcuterie grazing boxes included with every ticket.

Opportunities to support Life Education Trust do not stop at the door, with a bar open throughout the night and live auctions offering epic experiences locally and abroad.

There is also a people’s choice competition running, allowing the community to have their say on who should win.

To play judge, go to app.galabid.com/d4le24/ or text “d4le24” plus your name to 2834 to register to vote. Votes cost $3, with proceeds going to Life Education Trust EBOP.

After the dancers have had their shot on stage, the floor will open up to allow the audience to take their own dancing shoes for a spin. Life Education’s mascot, Harold, may even make an appearance for a boogie.

Mr Spring encouraged those wanting to attend to secure their tickets soon, and with glamstand tickets expected to drop in price in the final lead up to the event, there is no better time to buy.

Tickets are available from iticket.co.nz/events/2024/nov/dancing-for-life-education