Tarnished Frocks and Divas Tell All

A rare glimpse behind the scenes of Tauranga’s immensely popular Tarnished Frocks and Divas show will be revealed next week during a fundraiser to officially launch the 2013 event.

Dialogue with Divas will be held at Mills Reef winery on Wednesday 14 November and will feature a selection of stars from previous Diva productions talking about their experiences and explaining how the shows have changed their lives.

The bi-annual Tarnished Frocks and Divas began in 2005 and is a unique performing arts exhibition and fashion show focusing on revamped retro clothing modelled by women aged 40 years and over.

The show was originally created by a group of talented local women as a tribute to their dear friend, Barb, who died after a lengthy illness. The aim was to celebrate and showcase women’s talents and passion for life, and the event is now one of the Bay’s most hotly-anticipated social occasions.

Tarnished Frocks and Divas’ marketing spokeswoman, Lisa Ebbing, says next week’s Dialogue with Divas evening will involve plenty of fabulous entertainment and a walk down memory lane.

“Tarnished Frocks and Divas is a celebration which acknowledges and embraces the journey of life as a woman after 40 and it’s been so wonderful to see how the show has impacted women’s lives,” Ebbing says.

“There are the most amazing women involved in this event including the production team, singers, dancers, models and the trustees.   A lot of work goes into pulling together this fabulous show. It is also great to see so many women take part in something that is so inspirational and exciting.”

Past ‘Divas’ who will speak on the night include Julie Blake, Julie Pijfer, Claire Fuller (who have all modelled in previous shows), Paula Harrison (the 2009 show’s choreographer and singer), Porina McLeod (singer), and Holly Hill (who danced in the last two shows and was a finalist in the Open section in 2011).

The dancing team and musical duo Deelizious who all starred in the 2011 Tarnished Frocks and Divas show will also entertain crowds next Wednesday evening.

Tickets are available from Creative Tauranga and cost $25 which includes a glass of wine on arrival.

“There will also be a few wonderful surprises on the night but people need to be quick – there are only 150 tickets to Dialogue and Divas and we expect they will sell out fast,” Ebbing says.

More information about the Tarnished Frocks and Divas show, which will next be held in September 2013, and the people behind it can be found at www.tfandd.co.nz and www.facebook.com/tfandd.