06/12/2025
Gaye Hemsley has spent a lifetime following her passions and encouraging others to do the same. Twenty years ago she swapped busy Auckland for the smaller, close-knit community of Katikati. Not long after arriving, she was gently persuaded to start local dance classes... and of course, she said yes.
Seventy years on from her very first class, Gaye still teaches. These days her focus is on fortnightly Dance/Plus sessions for people with special needs, a space filled with joy, movement and heart.
Alongside dance, writing has become one of Gaye’s great loves. She has published several picture books as well as her life story, Journey of a Dance Teacher, a book that inspires readers to pursue their passions, even if life means pressing pause along the way. As a mother of four, she knows this balance well – and proves that dreams can flourish when the time is right.
Gaye is now working on her second book for adults, Julie’s Story, drawn from her English grandmother’s memories of travelling to Aotearoa and marrying a Norwegian sailor. Even though she is no longer teaching hundreds of children, Gaye remains deeply involved in her community. For 25 years she has gathered poetry lovers together to celebrate Poetry Day, and her dance concerts have long supported local charities.
Now in her eighties, Gaye believes age is only a number. If you feel like doing something, she says, then do it.
A life lived with purpose. A voice still writing, still inspiring. Keep an eye out for more from Gaye Hemsley.
Gaye is offering both of her books for $15 each, including postage within NZ.
Orders on email [email protected]
