Hip hop to the world
The two dance crews from Wellington hip hop school, The Company, will join 2,000 other competitors from more than 35 countries heading to Las Vegas for the 2011 World Hip Hop Dance Championships. For the eight member Emerge Dance Crew, it will be their second attempt at the Las Vegas championships having been placed ninth in last year’s world competition.
This year’s organisers also invited The Company to send a second dance group, a Mega Crew, to compete the first world mega competition for teams of up to 40 dancers. The 23 strong crew representing Wellington was selected after auditions earlier this year and members come from as far as Kapiti and Masterton and are aged between 13 and 28.
“For most of these kids it’s the first time they’ve been out of New Zealand,” says Liston Peilua, The Company’s executive director. “For them it’s like being selected to play in the All Blacks.”
Peilua says New Zealand hip hop is held in high regard internationally. An all-female crew from Auckland took out the world title last year.
“In New Zealand hip hop used to be seen as a Pacific Island – Maori male thing. It’s more diverse now with lots of female dancers and a whole range of different ethnicities.”
Peilua says The Company was formed in Wellington only last year and already has over 100 dancers from age seven to over 30.
“Our vision was to launch young people forward using dance as the medium. Hip hop gives these kids focus and they learn team work, discipline and hard work. They have to train like athletes.
As well as three months of hard training the young dancers have had to raise more than $70,000 to get to Las Vegas. They’ve run quiz nights, held dinner auctions, and this Saturday, July 16, will perform in a hip hop showcase at Wellington High School, their final fundraiser before taking on the world.
TCNZ Mega Crew and Emerge Worlds Showcase, Wellington High School, 6pm, July 16.










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