New Zealand's street dance scene has a rich and evolving history, deeply influenced by global hip-hop culture while developing its unique local flavour and community spirit.
**Early Origins and The First Wave (1980s)**
Street dance, particularly breakdancing (or B-boying), made its appearance on New Zealand streets in late 1982. This cultural wave was primarily influenced by American Samoa and the United States, with video clips and a segment on the TV show 'That’s Incredible' playing a significant role in its popularisation. The early 1980s saw the beginnings of hip-hop culture in New York City with DJs like Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash, which laid the foundation for breaking.
The dance form quickly resonated with Māori, Samoan, and Polynesian youth, who already identified with the television image of Black America, as seen in figures like Michael Jackson. For these communities, breakdancing offered a genuine activity that channeled immense energy and dedication, fostering unity, pride, knowledge, and recognition. The summer of 1983/84 was marked by widespread "dancing in the streets" across the country.
**Commercialisation and Shift Indoors**
However, this initial street-based movement soon faced pressures from city councils and commercial interests, leading to a rapid shift indoors. The scene changed as competitions and challenges began to be held nationwide, moving breaking into clubs and making it no longer free or strictly urban. Auckland even hosted a "Bop Olympics" during this period. This commercialisation marked a transformation, but a core nucleus of interest remained, particularly in places like Wellington, where groups continued to engage with hip-hop, including DJing, graffiti, and breakdancing.
**Development of Diverse Styles and Community Focus**
Over time, the New Zealand street dance scene embraced a wider array of styles beyond just breaking, including popping, locking, krump, house, waacking, and vogue. These styles often originated from various urban areas in the United States, developing in response to cultural movements and acting as forms of urban counterculture. Many of these forms, like Locking and Popping, have their specific origins on the West Coast of the USA, while Hip Hop itself (including Breaking) originated from Black and Latin communities in the Bronx, New York City.
**Key Aspects of NZ Street Dance Culture:**
* **Cultural Safety and Acknowledging Roots:** There is a strong emphasis on learning the foundations, history, and meaning behind each street dance style from local OGs (Original Generations), international pioneers, and authentic sources. This conscious effort aims to combat cultural appropriation, especially given that many street dance forms originated from Black and/or LGBTQ+ communities as expressions of self and resistance against oppression. Dancers like John Bernardo (JB) strongly advocate for referencing and acknowledging the originators.
* **Community and Mentorship:** The NZ street dance community values connection, mutual support, and passing on knowledge. Initiatives like Projekt Team's motto "People First. Dance Second" reflect this ethos. Leaders and established dancers are crucial for guiding the next generation, fostering an environment where egos are set aside for collective growth.
* **Global Connection and Representation:** New Zealand dancers actively connect with the international scene, bringing back new knowledge and techniques. This global engagement allows NZ street dancers to be seen for their authentic culture and skill on the world stage. The participation in international competitions like the European Buck Session (EBS) and Red Bull Dance Your Style highlights this ambition.
* **Addressing Challenges:** The community has faced challenges, including a period of "toxic behaviours" where dancers were precious with their moves and knowledge, and a disconnect between choreographers and freestylers. However, there's a conscious effort to bridge these gaps and promote unity and respect. Economic barriers also exist, with many dancers working full-time jobs and relying on fundraising for international opportunities.
### Timeline of Past and Present Street Dance Battle Events in New Zealand
New Zealand hosts a vibrant array of street dance battle events that showcase local talent and connect the community.
**Historical and Foundational Events:**
* **1980s Bop Olympics:** An early competition held in Auckland during the initial breakdancing boom.
* **Battlecry (since 2007):** New Zealand’s national breakdance competition, hosted at Ōtara Music Arts Centre (OMAC) in South Auckland. It's noted as an example of positive hip-hop culture uniting all ages and ethnic backgrounds.
* **Hip Hop International New Zealand (HHI NZ, since 2007):** Originally called Street Dance, this annual championship in South Auckland provides a platform for young people and crews (like Bubblegum, Masque, Prestige, IDCO) to compete and represent New Zealand at the world championships in Arizona.
* **Groove '08:** An early competition that was part of the World Supremacy Battlegrounds qualifiers, providing an opportunity for NZ crews to compete for a spot internationally.
**Key Ongoing and Recent Battle Events:**
* **Projekt Feel Good (since January 2021):** An annual hip-hop and street dance experience, a collaboration between Projekt Team and Do Good Feel Good movement. It brings communities together through workshops, dance battles, panel discussions, and a celebratory dance party, fostering a safe and positive environment. It aims to fill a void in community access to dance, especially by offering free opportunities.
* **Loose Change (started mid-2000s):** A hip-hop freestyle dance battle event, co-founded by Happy Feet (John Vaifale) and Josh. It aims to provide a dedicated platform for hip-hop freestyle, a style that incorporates party dances, B-boying top rocks, and even some house influences. It is considered a significant event for specific hip-hop freestyle music, unlike all-style battles where music genres vary.
* **Red Bull Dance Your Style NZ Final (since May 2023):** New Zealand hosted its first-ever national final in Auckland. This all-styles street dance competition features 16 of the country's best dancers across various styles (hip-hop, house, waacking, turfing, krumping, popping), who battle one-on-one to randomly selected music. The audience serves as the judge, with no planned choreography or pre-chosen music. Happy Feet (John Vaifale) was the inaugural winner, representing NZ at the World Final in Germany.
* **Ladies of Hip Hop Aotearoa (inaugural in 2024, return 2025):** A weekend-long festival dedicated to empowering women and girls in hip-hop and street dance. It features dance battles across various styles including Hip Hop, Waacking, Krump, Popping, Locking, House, Breaking, and Vogue OTA, alongside workshops and panel talks. Rina Chae and En Beat Academy are key organisers.
* **Battlegrounds Aotearoa (next: March 2025):** An event where New Zealand's top dance crews compete to represent Aotearoa on the world stage in Dubai.
* **Fusion Concept New Zealand Qualifier (next: August 2024):** A national qualifier for the global Fusion Concept dance battle, where elite freestyle duos from across New Zealand compete for a spot in the world finals. It's hosted by Projekt Team.
* **Pop, Lock & Break it (various dates):** A 3v3 street dance battle event featuring Bboying/Bgirling, Popping, and Locking. It has been part of larger celebrations like the Lunar New Year in Aotea Square and was held at Potters Park in July 2022.
* **The Art of War Battles (next: February 2025):** Unique battles inspired by Sun Tzu's Art of War, requiring tact and strategy. These include Open Style Crew Battles and specific Popping, Locking, and Breaking battles.
* **The Beatdown Battle Event (various editions):** A local dance community event hosted by Lighthouse Famz, platforming krump dancers and encouraging "Famz culture" through team sections and divisions for different age and experience levels.
* **Skillz Central (March 2024):** Part of the Auckland Arts Festival, it features 1v1 DJ Mixing and 3v3 Freestyle Dance battles, judged by WDSF Certified Olympic Breakin’ Judges and local legends. It also includes workshops and showcases by international crews like ILL-Abilities.
* **Britomart Backyard Battles (since February 2024):** A vibrant summer dance battle series brought by Projekt Team, highlighting different street dance communities and battle concepts each month.
* **Pick & Battle (May 2023):** An Auckland Live event where Projekt Team improvises dance battles to New Zealand music anthems, followed by workshops.
### Notable Key Figures
**Leaders and Organisers:**
* **Mele Taeiloa:** Recognised as an MVP in the dance community, she plays a crucial behind-the-scenes role, without whom events like Projekt Feel Good would not happen. She is a dance educator, Head of Learning Area of Manurewa High School's Dance department, and an advocate for Hip Hop and Street Dance culture, specialising in Locking.
* **Rina Chae:** Known as 'NZ’s Queen of K-Pop', she choreographs for K-pop idols and is a K-pop choreography agent. She founded En Beat Dance Academy with her husband Zed Nufable and is the Mother of Imperial House of Waacking (NZ chapter) and Dance Liaison for Red Bull Dance Your Style 2023.
* **Zed Nufable (Mr Zee):** Rina Chae's husband, a respected street dancer specialising in hip-hop, and a judge for competitions in NZ and Australia. He is the co-owner/director of En Beat Dance Academy and President of the 603 Boogie Squad.
* **Joshua Mitikulena:** Founder of Projekt Team in 2014, a leading collective creating authentic and innovative opportunities for the Hip Hop and Street Dance freestyle community in Aotearoa. Projekt Team organises many key events.
* **Ken Vaega (LIGHTSABER aka JR STREET BEAST):** A prominent Krump dancer and 2018 European Buck Session (EBS) World Champion. He is a leader in The Lighthouse NZ, a collective focused on teaching, building, and mentoring dancers, particularly in South Auckland. He uses different dance personas in battles.
* **Ennaolla Paea:** Founder and co-director (with Ken Vaega) of Lighthouse Famz, a South Auckland dance collective that organises events like The Beatdown.
* **Dujon Cullingford:** A youth and community development expert who has competed in over 1000 performances. He is associated with ANZBA leadership for the Olympics.
* **Kat Walker:** A hip-hop pioneer, dance educator, dancer, and choreographer with a Masters degree in Hip Hop Dance, actively involved in discussions and panels.
* **Bboy Papa Smurf (Taupuhi Toki):** A Maori MC and B-boy, co-founder of the InStance Movement crew, and the person who coined the name 'Street Talk'. He frequently MCs for major events.
**Successful Dancers and Pioneers:**
* **Happy Feet (John Vaifale):** A hip-hop freestyler and the national champion of New Zealand's first Red Bull Dance Your Style event in 2023. He is part of Projekt Team and co-founder of the "Loose Change" event. He integrates his Polynesian and New Zealand culture into his unique style. He also teaches at House of Bounce.
* **John Bernardo (JB):** A respected figure in the New Zealand dance community, particularly known for Locking. He represents Example Fams, 603 Boogie Squad, and NZ Lockers, and teaches Locking at En Beat Dance Academy and Kinetic Dance Studio. He strongly advocates for cultural acknowledgment and the importance of learning history.
* **Daniel Jang (Simba):** A B-boy who teaches breaking at En Beat Dance Academy and Kinetic Dance Studio. He believes in community and collaboration to help the entire scene improve.
* **Jay Kapene (B-boy Flex/J-Fresh):** A B-boy from Levin, New Zealand, who started breaking in 1999-2000. He emphasises that dance should be fun and believes in continuously pushing oneself and sharing knowledge ("each one teach one").
* **Sejoo Han (FL09):** Teaches popping at Auckland Popping Club and is a member of Projekt Team. He has trained extensively in Korea and brings that high-level experience to the NZ scene.
* **Shelton Rua:** A house dancer associated with Faleheddz House Movement and Projekt Team, who teaches house dance at En Beat Dance Academy. He has judged events like The Art of War Battles.
* **Seidah Tuaoi (Heavenly Pops, formerly Demon Pops):** A creative dancer known for fusing popping with her Samoan culture, while being mindful of elder and family representation.
* **Byrin Mita:** A Māori street dancer who runs the XIII WRLD programme, fostering young talent in various styles like krump, hip-hop, popping, and locking. He prioritises Māori representation and cultural heritage in street dance.
* **Bboy Ducky:** A Korean B-boy pioneer and legend from Drifterz Crew, and the first Korean B-boy winner of major international competitions (Battle Of The Year & UK bboy championship 2002), who has judged events in NZ.