An In-depth Guide to New Zealand Street Dance Events

An In-depth Guide to New Zealand Street Dance Events

New Zealand's street dance scene is a vibrant and evolving landscape, deeply rooted in the global hip hop culture while developing its own unique identity and community values. It is characterized by self-expression, resilience, and community, serving as a platform for dancers to gain recognition, connect with peers, and carry forward the hip hop legacy.

1. What is Street Dance? Street dance is an umbrella term for dance styles that originated spontaneously outside of traditional dance studios, typically in urban areas like streets, clubs, schoolyards, and community centers. These styles developed as a reaction to cultural movements and often function as forms of urban counterculture, providing a means of self-expression for marginalized individuals. While often stereotypically equated with "Hip Hop," street dance encompasses a wider range of styles. The term "street dance" is ambiguous and can refer to several dance styles, especially in East Asian contexts where it's used as an umbrella term for dances evolved from hip hop cultural movements.

2. Prevalent Street Dance Styles in New Zealand The New Zealand street dance scene features a diverse array of styles, many originating from Black and Latin communities in the USA, and are living cultures passed down and adapted through generations.

• Hip Hop Dance: Began in 1973 in New York City and includes breaking, party dances, MCing, DJing, and graffiti. It evolved into a freestyle form drawing from foundational grooves like bounce, rock, roll, wave, and skate, with moves such as the Smurf, Prep, and Cabbage Patch laying groundwork. Hip Hop dance is characterized by bounces and rocks, executed to hip hop music, and has deep historical and social roots in African American culture. In NZ, prominent hip hop freestylers include John Vaifale (Happy Feet). Classes are available at places like House of Bounce and En Beat Dance Academy.
• Breaking (B-Boying/B-Girling): The original dance style that emerged from the Bronx in the early 1970s, considered one of the four original elements of hip hop culture. It is an athletic dance style allowing for good-natured battles and displays of one-upmanship. Foundational moves include Top Rocks, Fast Footwork, Back Rocks, Freezes, and Power Moves. There's an ideological split between those favoring acrobatic 'power moves' and 'air moves' and those favoring the traditional, intricate, and rhythmic style. Breaking is also recognized as an Olympic sport, debuting at the Youth Olympics in 2018 and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Key figures in NZ breaking include Daniel Jang (Simba) and Andy Choi, with classes at Auckland Breaking Community, En Beat Dance Academy, and Kinetic Dance Studio.
• Popping: A street dance style where dancers quickly tense and release muscles, sometimes called 'hitting'. It is often incorrectly grouped under the Hip Hop umbrella but has its own techniques, vocabulary, and origin. Sejoo Han is a prominent popper in NZ, teaching at Auckland Popping Club and En Beat Dance Academy.
• Locking: Characterized by light-hearted and happy movements, often danced to funk music. Like popping, it's a distinct style often mistakenly associated directly with hip hop. John Bernardo (JB) is a respected locker in NZ, teaching at En Beat Dance Academy and Kinetic Dance Studio.
• Krumping: An energetic, expressive street dance style created in California by Tight Eyez and Mijo in the early 2000s. It can appear aggressive but is a peaceful form of expression, used to rechannel anger and frustration and provide a positive outlet. Krump is an acronym for Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise, and every country has its own style. Ken Vaega (Lightsaber/Junior Street Beast) is a global Krump champion from South Auckland. Krump Klub offers free classes for youth in Māngere.
• Waacking (Whacking): Characterized by striking arm movements, poses, and footwork, inspired by energetic sounds. It was originally created to empower people of color in the LGBTQIA+ community and has inspired dancers globally. Rina Chae is the Mother of Imperial House of Waacking (New Zealand chapter), and Hayley Walters-Tekahika also teaches waacking.
• House Dance: Emerged from house music and focuses on improvisation, including styles like "jacking," "lofting," and "footwork". It emphasizes freedom of expression and movement, becoming one of the most integrated and progressive spaces in the 1980s for Black, gay, and other minority populations. Shelton Rua is an house dancer associated with Faleheddz House Movement and Projekt Team.

3. Key Organizations and Collectives

• Projekt Team: New Zealand's largest All Style Street Dance collective, founded in 2014 by Joshua Mitikulena. Their motto is 'People First. Dance Second'. They organize events like Britomart Backyard Battles, Fusion Concept New Zealand Qualifier, and Pick & Battle.
• En Beat Dance Academy: Founded in 2020 by Rina Chae and her husband Mr. Zee (Zed Nufable), focusing on foundational street style, commercial forms like heels, choreography, and K-pop. They offer paid classes in Hip Hop, Breaking, Popping, House, Locking, and Waacking.
• Lighthouse Famz: A South Auckland dance collective directed by Ennaolla Paea and Ken Vaega, focusing on Krump and community development. They host events like The Beatdown.
• Identity Dance Company (IDCO): A pillar of Aotearoa's street dance scene, known for countless national and international titles and captivating audiences with skillful, complex performances. They compete in choreography competitions like HHI and World of Dance.
• Auckland Breaking Community: Offers free classes/jams in breaking, taught by Andy Choi and members.
• Street Talk: An organization that hosts various street dance events, including battles, workshops, and summits, promoting hip hop culture and community. Their slogan is "Where faith meets hiphop culture".
• Do Good Feel Good: A youth movement that collaborates with Projekt Team to deliver events like Projekt Feel Good, emphasizing connection, authentic street dance, and wellbeing in a safe and positive environment.

4. Cultural Significance and Education The NZ street dance scene strongly emphasizes learning the foundations, history, and cultural roots of dance styles from local OGs (Original Gangsters), international pioneers, and authentic sources. It promotes humility, learning, and respect, encouraging participation in local battles, jams, and workshops to foster growth. It's crucial to understand that these dances are more than just moves; they are ways to tell stories, express identity, unite communities, and honor the past. Respecting the roots means supporting street events, honoring history and pioneers, and learning from real practitioners, not just commercial teachers.

There's a significant concern regarding cultural appropriation and mislabeling in dance. Copying moves or teaching styles without knowing their roots erases the story, voices, and history that make street dance powerful and unique. Many commercial dancers enjoy street styles without acknowledging the deep history and meaning behind them, which can water down the culture. This is particularly relevant for styles like Locking, which was birthed out of the Civil Rights movement, and Dancehall from Jamaica. Authenticity is key, and artists are encouraged to credit teachers and trailblazers in their work.

5. Global Connections New Zealand street dancers frequently engage with the international scene through competitions, workshops, and collaborations.

• International Competitions: NZ dancers compete in global events like Red Bull Dance Your Style, European Buck Session (EBS), World Hip Hop Championships (HHI), and Juste Debout. Breaking's inclusion in the Olympics also signifies a global stage for NZ b-boys/b-girls.
• Learning from Pioneers: International street dance pioneers like Buddha Stretch, Link, Archie Burnand, Suga Pop, Mister Wiggles, and world champions such as Rochka, Rubix, Boubou the Crow, Mijo, Beast, Brui5er, and Hozin have shared their knowledge in NZ. Japanese hip hop dancer Kyoka has also taught and judged at NZ events.
• Cultural Exchange: NZ dancers travel overseas to gain knowledge and train in international studios, bringing back new techniques and inspiration to Aotearoa.

Deep Dive into NZ Street Dance Events and Competitions

Street dance events in New Zealand are crucial for community building, skill development, and cultural preservation. They range from informal jams to large-scale international competitions.

Types of Events:

• Battles: Dancers go head-to-head in formal or informal competitions, either individually (1 vs 1) or in crews/teams (2 vs 2, 3 vs 3, group battles). Battles often involve "unknown" music, requiring dancers to improvise and adapt on the spot, showcasing skill, musicality, foundation, and originality. Specialty battles include duos, seven-to-smoke, and open-style formats, testing versatility across genres.
• Cyphers: The heart of street dance, where skills are shared, tested, and celebrated in a circle of dancers. Dancers enter one by one, freestyling to express themselves and entertain each other. Proper etiquette includes observing first, waiting your turn, and respecting the order, especially in breaking.
• Jams: Open spaces for freestyle dancers to come in, dance, and work on their craft. They are less competitive than battles and focus on connection and enjoyment.
• Workshops: Sessions led by experienced dancers, often including international guests, to teach techniques, history, and cultural significance of various styles.
• Panel Talks/Kōrero: Discussions involving hip hop community leaders and pioneers sharing insights, experiences, and personal creative pathways, fostering intergenerational empowerment.

Major Competitions and Festivals:

• Red Bull Dance Your Style NZ Final: A highly anticipated all-styles dance competition that first hit NZ in May 2023. It features 16 of the country's best dancers across various styles, battling one-on-one to randomly selected music. The audience judges the competition, emphasizing freedom and embracing the moment. The winner represents NZ at the World Final.
• World Dance Crew Championship (WDCC) 2025: A new prestigious biennial international dance competition set to take place in Auckland from 13-19 April 2025. It will unite top dance crews globally, showcasing hip hop, club, and street dance across five divisions. The event is a joint venture between Studio23 and The Major Events Group, with Parris Goebel's involvement expected to skyrocket its international profile. It received $1.5 million in joint funding from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and MBIE.
• Battlegrounds Aotearoa: An event for Aotearoa's top dance crews to compete for a chance to represent New Zealand on the world stage in Dubai. This marks a shift from previous years where qualifiers headed to Australia.
• Hip Hop International New Zealand (HHI NZ): Started in 2007 in South Auckland as "Street Dance" to provide a platform for young people to grow through dance. It is a three-day hip hop contest held at Vodafone Events Centre, with over 1000 dancers from 84 crews competing for world glory in the US.
• Tempo Dance Festival – Te Rerenga o Tere: A biennial festival held in October at Q Theatre, showcasing a full program of immersive, innovative dance, from hip-hop to ballet to contemporary and Indigenous styles. The 2024 theme "Whenua Wāhi: Stories of Land & Place" explores the connection between people and land through movement. It includes performances by Identity Dance Company (IDCO) and Projekt Team, as well as free community workshops.
• Ladies of Hip Hop Aotearoa: A festival dedicated to celebrating and empowering women and girls in Hip Hop culture, launched in 2024 and returning in 2025. It features dance battles, house dance workshops, guest performances, and panel talks that highlight community, creativity, and cultural exchange. International artists like Toyin Sogunro (House dance icon from NYC) and Imani J (Hip Hop artist from LA) participate.
• Projekt Feel Good: A collaboration between Projekt Team and Do Good Feel Good movement, uniting communities from different hip hop dance styles in a safe and positive environment. It offers workshops, dance battles, panel discussions, and aims to be a global event bringing in hip hop pioneers.
• Street Talk Events: This organization hosts several regular events:
  • Boppalympics: A competition featuring NZ bboy/bgirl crews in categories like top-rock, power moves, up-rock, freezes, drops, and footwork, culminating in knockout crew battles. The first Boppalympics was held at Mt Smart Stadium in 1984.
  • Art of War Battles: Unique battles requiring tact, strategy, and skill, inspired by Sun Tzu's book. They include Open Style Crew Battles and Popping, Locking & Breaking battles.
  • Pop, Lock & Break-it: A 3v3 street dance battle where each team member represents Bboying/Bgirling, Popping, and Locking styles.
  • Street Talk Summits: Annual faith-based hip hop conferences uniting people from different cultures and social backgrounds. They include workshops on various hip hop elements (MC, DJ, Graffiti Art, Break Dance, Popping), history panels, showcases, and public jams with live battles.
• Britomart Backyard Battles: A summer dance battle series brought by the Projekt Team, featuring freestyle dancers in monthly battles highlighting different street dance communities.
• Fusion Concept New Zealand Qualifier: A competition for the best street dance duos from across New Zealand to battle for a spot in the world finals. Hosted by Projekt Team.
• Pick & Battle: An event celebrating NZ Music Month where Projekt Team performs live improvised dance battles to New Zealand music anthems chosen by the audience.
• The Beatdown Battle Event: Hosted by Lighthouse Famz, celebrating the Krump Dance community, with divisions for Kidz, Youngins, Rookies, and Heavy Hitters.

Timeline of New Zealand Street Dance Events

The timeline below details key events and milestones in New Zealand's street dance history, emphasizing its evolution and growing prominence.

• 1970s:
  • Mid-to-Late 1970s: Hip-hop culture begins in New York City with DJs like Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. B-boy Spy dominates breaking, creating foundational moves.
• Early 1980s:
  • Early 1980s: Party dancers and early breaking influencers begin developing Hip-Hop Freestyle.
  • Late 1982: Breakdancing makes its appearance on New Zealand streets, influenced by travelers from American Samoa and the US.
  • Summer 1983/84: "Dancing in the streets" occurs throughout the country.
  • 1984: The first "Boppalympics" is held at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
• 1985:
  • March 1985: Photographer Peter Black's photoessay "Dancing in the Streets" opens at City Art Gallery, documenting the breakdance phenomenon in NZ. The exhibition includes dance competitions.
• 2000s:
  • Early 2000s: Krump emerges in Los Angeles, inspiring dancers globally.
  • 2007: Hip Hop International New Zealand (originally "Street Dance") begins in South Auckland.
  • 2008 (approx.): Identity Dance Company (IDCO) is formed.
• 2010s:
  • 2012: Rep Your Style is founded in New York City to unite street dance styles.
  • November 2013: Battlecry, New Zealand’s national breakdance competition, in its seventh year, is hosted at Ōtara Music Arts Centre (OMAC).
  • 2014: Projekt Team, an All Style Street Dance collective, is founded by Joshua Mitikulena.
  • 2015: Busking Jam, an event raising awareness for the homeless in Auckland, is organized by Street Talk. Street Talk Summit, a faith-based Hip-Hop conference, begins.
  • 2016: Street Talk Summit continues, offering workshops and battles.
  • 2017: HHI New Zealand continues to host championships, with over 1000 dancers competing. Street Talk Summit 2017 held at Aotea Square.
  • 2018: Ken Vaega (Lightsaber/JR Street Beast) wins the European Buck Session (EBS) World Championship in Germany, becoming a global Krump champion and pioneer for NZ dancers. Breaking debuts at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Street Talk Summit 2018 takes place, focusing on hip hop as a global culture.
  • Late 2018/Early 2019: Daniel Jang begins to develop a specific knee spin move.
• 2020s:
  • 2020: En Beat Dance Academy is founded by Rina Chae and Mr. Zed. Ken Vaega co-directs "Synthesis". Loose Change hip-hop freestyle battle event is started by John Vaifale.
  • January 2021: The inaugural Projekt Feel Good event is held in South Auckland.
  • January 2022: The second annual Projekt Feel Good event takes place at The Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau.
  • July 2022: "Pop, Lock & Break it" 3v3 Street Dance Battle is held at Potters Park. The Beatdown Battle END OF YEAR event is held by Lighthouse Famz.
  • May 2023: New Zealand's first-ever Red Bull Dance Your Style National Final is held at Takutai Square, Britomart, with Happy Feet (John Vaifale) winning. Rina Chae brought NZ's top dancers together for this event.
  • September 2023: Māori street dancer Byrin Mita's XIII WRLD program fosters young talent in various street dance styles.
  • January 2024: Lunar New Year - Pop Lock & Break-it event is announced for February 2024.
  • February 2024: Britomart Backyard Battles, a summer dance battle series by Projekt Team, begins. Auckland Live Summer in the Square features Latin dance classes, Zumba, DJs, and live bands, and "Beats in the Square" kicks off with Rina Chae hosting a dance battle. "Pride in the Square" includes waackers of IHOW_NZ.
  • March 2024: Skillz Central, featuring 1v1 DJ Mixing and 3v3 Freestyle Dance battles, is held at the Auckland Arts Festival, with judges from ILL-Abilities. ILL-Abilities also performs a breakdance showcase.
  • August 2024: Tempo Dance Festival returns to Q Theatre. The government announces $750,000 funding for the new World Dance Crew Championship 2025.
• Future Events (Announced):
  • February 2025: "The Art of War" dance battles are announced for February 1st and 9th, 2025.
  • January 2025: Ladies of Hip Hop Aotearoa 2025 is scheduled for June 7-8, 2025. RAD New Zealand announces "Battle: Break-it-Down" for February 1st, 2025.
  • March 2025: Battlegrounds Aotearoa 2025 is scheduled for March 22nd, with qualifiers heading to Dubai.
  • April 2025: World Dance Crew Championship (WDCC) 2025 to take place from 13-19 April.
  • May 2025: Red Bull BC One Cypher Switzerland is scheduled for May 31st, 2025.
  • June 2025: "New Zealand Street Dance Chronicle" timeline dated June 22nd, 2025.
  • August 2024: Breakdancing debuts at the Olympics.