Six determined New Zealand line dancers are preparing to represent Aotearoa on one of the biggest competitive line dance stages in the world.
There are dance competitions, and then there is the World Dance Masters in Blackpool.
From Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August, dancers from around the world will gather at the historic Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England, for four packed days of competition.
This year, Maggie Li, Jasmine Han, Wina Robertson, Christine McHardy, Megan Li and Jaime Ngawaka are heading to World Dance Masters 2026 to proudly represent New Zealand.
They will be joining more than 850 dancers from 28 countries, making this the largest World Dance Masters competition ever held.
No pressure, then!
Nine Months of Training, Technique and Tenacity
The journey began in October 2025, when the team started learning the technique required for this year’s three different dance genres: Polka, Nightclub and Show Dance.
Since then, training has taken place every week. The Auckland-based dancers have trained together in person, while those living outside Auckland have taken part through video training.
It has required commitment, patience and a great deal of repetition. Behind every polished performance are countless hours spent refining footwork, posture, timing, musicality and presentation.
Week after week, the dancers have continued to show up, work through the difficult moments and push themselves beyond what felt comfortable.
For Maggie Li, this year brings an additional challenge. After becoming World Champion in her age division at Intermediate level last year, Maggie has moved into the Advanced division.
She will compete in East Coast Swing, Waltz and Show Dance, taking on a whole new level of competition.
Winning a world title is an extraordinary achievement. Stepping up a division and challenging yourself all over again takes just as much courage.
Building a World-Class Team
Behind every successful team is a coach with a vision, and for Team New Zealand that person is Jaime Ngawaka.
Jaime assembled the team and has led their development from day one, coaching the dancers year-round and building the technical, physical and mental foundations needed to compete on the world stage. Every routine, every training session and every milestone has been part of a long-term plan to prepare the team for international competition.
Recognising that even the best athletes benefit from fresh perspectives, Jaime leveraged her strong connections within the Australian dance community to bring Team Australia coach William Plain to New Zealand every few months. His role was to complement the existing programme, providing specialist technical workshops that refined performance quality, sharpened technique and added the final polish to an already well-developed team.
William’s coaching style—a combination of tough love, cracking the whip and plenty of laughter—challenged the dancers to lift their standards and reinforced the work already being done under Jaime’s leadership.
The Road to Blackpool Went Through Melbourne
Before the team could take on the world, they first needed to test themselves closer to home.
In June, Team New Zealand travelled to Melbourne for the Australian Masters. The squad included Maggie Li, Jasmine Han, Bridget King, Megan Li, Wina Robertson, Jillian Potter, Christine McHardy, Emma Feenstra and Jaime Ngawaka .
The Australian Masters gave the dancers valuable experience performing under pressure. It also allowed them to see where they ranked and to qualify to compete at the World Dance Masters in Blackpool.
The results were magnificent.
Every member of Team New Zealand received strong rankings, and all qualified to compete at Worlds.
Bridget King, Jillian Potter and Emma Feenstra performed brilliantly in Melbourne. Although they had already decided not to continue through to Blackpool this year, their achievements were an important part of Team New Zealand’s success and something they should be extremely proud of.
Now the Real Challenge Begins
With a record number of dancers entering World Dance Masters this year, reaching a final will be an achievement in itself.
Many competitors will first need to make it through knockout heats and a semi-final before earning the opportunity to dance in the final. Every performance matters, and even the smallest details can make the difference between progressing and watching the next round from the sidelines.
Competitive dancing is tough. It asks dancers to put themselves in front of judges, spectators and some of the best performers in the world.
It requires them to keep going when training becomes difficult, when confidence takes a knock and when stepping outside their comfort zone feels anything but comfortable.
Competing is not for everyone. It takes courage to place yourself under the lights, wait for the music to begin and trust that all those months of preparation will be there when you need them.
For the past nine months, these ladies have shown up week after week and poured everything into the process. They have demonstrated remarkable resilience, courage, dedication and determination.
Whatever happens on the results board in Blackpool, they are already winners for having the courage to take this journey.
Follow Team NZ from Home
The distance between New Zealand and Blackpool does not mean the local line dance community has to miss the action.
World Dance Masters will provide official live and on-demand coverage of the competition, allowing friends, family and supporters back home to follow the dancers from afar.
Competition schedules and event information are available on the World Dance Masters website , while streaming information and coverage can be found through World Dance Masters Live .
Keep an eye on the official schedule for competition times and remember to allow for the time difference between Blackpool and New Zealand.
New Zealand Is Behind You
Soon, Maggie, Jasmine, Wina, Christine, Megan and Jaime will walk onto the dance floor wearing the silver fern and representing line dancers from across Aotearoa.
That is a moment worth celebrating.
The New Zealand line dance community should be immensely proud of every member of the team, including those who helped them qualify, trained beside them, coached them and supported them throughout the journey.
To Maggie, Jasmine, Wina, Christine, Megan and Jaime: trust your training, enjoy every moment and show the world what New Zealand line dancers can do.
Dance strongly, dance proudly and leave everything on the floor.
Good luck, Team NZ. Blackpool is waiting!