The words hip hop and Korea don’t often appear in the same sentence.

But Korea’s dynamic hip hop dance troupe, Gorilla Crew, will do more than shake up your understanding of what modern Korean dance and music is all about. The crew, homegrown in Korea in 1998, has put their country on the international B-boy map with their unique performance style and dance moves. They have performed were the first B-Boy crew to feature in the USA on Broadway, in Europe, Singapore, China and Japan. Now Gorilla Crew appears at the Michael Fowler Centre on Friday in Sounds of Friendship, a spectacular of Korean culture marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and New Zealand.

They are joined by Gong Myoung, a Korean percussion quartet. The four are regarded as ambassadors of traditional Korean music and also known for reinventing traditional Korean sounds by mixing it up with modern sounds. Between them they play more than 30 instruments, many they have made themselves, and are best known for their drumming.

Both Gorilla Crew and Gong Myoung have been brought to New Zealand by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to celebrate 2012, the Year of Friendship between Korea and New Zealand. The concert is free.

Sounds of Friendship, Michael Fowler Centre, 6.15pm, June 8.