Historical Events and Milestones of Aotearoa NZ Street Dance

I. Historical Events and Milestones

This section outlines the significant developments and cultural shifts that shaped New Zealand's street dance landscape.

• 1960s:
  • 1961: The Twist arrives in New Zealand, marking a significant shift from formal partner dancing to more individual and self-directed styles.  
  • Late 1950s-1960s: Youth dance clubs proliferate across the country, fueled by the popularity of rock 'n' roll.  
  • 1960s: Television shows like C'mon become instrumental in rapidly disseminating new dance moves and popularizing contemporary styles.  
  • 1960s: Nightclubs begin to replace traditional dance halls, reinforcing the move towards non-partnered dancing.  
  • Late 1960s: The Northern Soul scene develops globally, influencing dance culture.  
• 1970s:
  • Early 1970s: Hip hop dance styles such as uprock, breaking, locking, roboting, boogaloo, and popping primarily develop in New York City.  
  • 1971: Soul Train, a television show, becomes crucial in bringing funk styles of street dance (including locking, roboting, boogaloo, and popping) to a wider audience.  
  • 1973: Hip Hop culture is widely considered to have been born on August 11, 1973, in the Bronx, New York, with DJ Kool Herc's innovative use of looped instrumental break beats.  
  • 1974: DJ Afrika Bambaataa formally introduces the term "Hip Hop," establishing its four core elements: MCing, DJing, breaking, and graffiti.  
  • 1970s: Waacking, a street dance style, emerges from the LGBTQ+ clubs of Los Angeles, influenced by disco and funk music.  
  • Late 1970s-Early 1980s: House dance originates from underground clubs in Chicago and New York.  
  • 1977: The film Saturday Night Fever serves as a popular guide for new dance moves, leaving a lasting impact on the era's dance-floor culture.  
  • 1979: The movie The Warriors is released, significantly contributing to the notoriety of breakdancing.  
  • 1979: The first commercially successful hip hop single, "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang, is released (entering the New Zealand Top 50 in 1980).  
• 1980s:
  • 1980: "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang enters the New Zealand Top 50.  
  • Early 1980s: Breakdancing arrives in New Zealand, primarily through American media (TV, movies) and direct kinship connections from American Samoa via Western Samoa.  
  • 1981: A small group of young Samoans begins "bopping" in New Zealand, having been exposed to the dance through family networks.  
  • 1982: "Bopping" and breaking arrive in Wellington, introduced by New Zealand Samoan cousins like Petelo.  
  • Late 1982: Breakdancing makes its definitive appearance on New Zealand streets.  
  • 1983: The movie Flashdance is released, instrumental in boosting the popularity and legitimacy of breakdancing.  
  • 1983: The US documentary Style Wars is screened on television, inspiring local graffiti artists.  
  • 1983/84 Summer: Widespread "dancing in the streets" occurs across the country.  
  • 1984: Joe Moana's cameo dance segments in the music video for the Pātea Māori Club's hit "Poi E" mark the first time New Zealanders widely view hip hop dance elements integrated with a local recording.  
  • 1984: The movie Beat Street is released, further boosting the popularity and legitimacy of breakdancing.  
  • 1985: The book Street action Aotearoa by Mark Scott and Peter Black documents the "bop" phenomenon in New Zealand.  
  • 1985: Upper Hutt Posse is formed, recognized as the progenitor of hip hop music in Aotearoa.  
  • 1986: The first MC competition is held in Taita, Hutt Valley.  
  • 1988: Upper Hutt Posse releases "E Tu," New Zealand's first "pure hip hop single" and bilingual rap song, combining Western pop-rock styles with Māori influences.  
  • Late 1980s: The South Auckland and West Auckland hip hop scenes begin to thrive, with numerous young acts promoted by the Voodoo Rhyme syndicate.  
  • Late 1980s: Vogue originates globally as a highly stylized modern house dance.  
  • 1989: A DJ competition is held in Auckland, won by DJ Ned Roy.  
  • 1989: Voodoo Vinyl is formed, releasing its first record "Stop Tagging".  
• 1990s:
  • 1990: Madonna's "Vogue" song and video, and the documentary Paris Is Burning, give mainstream exposure to Vogue.  
  • Early 1990s: House music (Chicago, Acid, New York, and UK varieties) becomes a central component of New Zealand's nightlife soundtrack.  
  • 1990-1991: Hip-house group Chain Gang, in collaboration with Alan Jansson, releases charting singles "Break The Beat" and "Jump".  
  • 1992: Moana and the Moahunters win a New Zealand Music Industry award for best Māori recording.  
  • 1994: The compilation album Proud, assembled by Alan Jansson, is released, effectively merging hip-hop beats with acoustic instruments and defining the Urban Pasifika style.  
  • 1994: Sisters Underground's "In the Neighbourhood" becomes the first top ten single in the Urban Pasifika style.  
  • 1995: OMC achieves global success with "How Bizarre," topping charts in multiple countries.  
  • Mid-1990s: Hip hop dance experiences a resurgence after a period of reduced popularity in the early 1990s.  
  • Late 1990s: New Zealand house productions gain significant traction, notably through collectives and labels like Kog Transmissions and Nurture Recordings/South Exit.  
  • 1999: King Kapisi becomes the first hip hop artist to receive the APRA Silver Scroll Award for his single "Reverse Resistance".  
  • 1999: Urban Pacifika Records releases the compilation Urban Pacifika Records - Pioneers of a Pacifikan Frontier.  
• 2000s-Present:
  • Early 2000s: Breakdancing becomes deeply integrated into the New Zealand dance scene, with widespread classes and international success.  
  • Early 2000s: The local house music scene experiences a "golden moment" with a surge in promoters, nightclubs, and local/international DJs.  
  • Early 2000s: Litefeet, a street dance style, emerges from Harlem, New York.  
  • 2001: Influential American and British producer/DJs, Matthew "Recloose" Chicoine and Dick Johnson, relocate to Aotearoa.  
  • 2002: The World Hip Hop Dance Championship is created by Hip Hop International.  
  • Circa 2005: Krump emerges in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand), gaining popularity through screenings of the documentary Rize and the circulation of Krump DVDs and social media.  
  • 2005: Parris Goebel forms her first dance group, ReQuest, at age 15.  
  • 2008: Identity Dance Company (IDCO) is established in Auckland.  
  • 2009: The Palace Dance Studio is founded in Auckland by Parris Goebel's family, serving as a training ground for internationally successful dance crews.  
  • 2014: The New Zealand documentary Hip Hop-eration, showcasing an elderly dance troupe competing in Las Vegas, is released theatrically in Auckland.  
  • 2016: Phoebe J Smith's Master of Design thesis, "Dancing from the inside out," explores the intersections of street dance, social media, and self-identity in Aotearoa.  
  • 2017: Keith (A$AP) begins Krump dancing.  
  • Ongoing: New Zealand crews consistently participate in and excel at international competitions, including the World Hip Hop Dance Championship and World of Dance.  

II. Competition Events

This section details specific street dance competitions and events held in New Zealand, categorized by era.

• 1980s:
  • 1984 Bop Olympics: A national competition held at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, featuring B-boying (Breaking/Breakdancing), Popping, and Locking (collectively known as "Bop").  
  • 1985 Shazam Bop Competition: Televised (NZ). An annual breakdance championship that was part of the Shazam! music television program.  
  • 1986 First MC Competition: Held in Taita, Hutt Valley.  
  • 1989 DJ Competition: Held in Auckland, won by DJ Ned Roy.  
• 2000s-Present:
  • 2006 Hip Hop Dance Contest Finals (Krumping): Students from Onehunga High reached the finals of a major New Zealand hip hop dance contest for krumping.  
  • 2007 "Get Krump" / Battlezone Competition: Held at Kensington Stadium, Whangarei, as a freestyle dance-off hosted by Thomas "Tommy the Clown" Johnson and his crew.  
  • 2013 Hip Hop International Championships (Las Vegas, USA): New Zealand crews Dziah and Krash competed, with their journey featured in the Hip Hop-eration documentary.  
  • 2018 European Buck Session: Ken Vaega (Lightsaber) won the Global Krump Champion title.  
  • 2023 Red Bull Dance Your Style NZ Final (Debut): Held in Auckland, this all-styles street dance competition features 1-on-1 battles to randomly selected music, with audience votes determining the winners. Styles include hip-hop, house, waacking, turfing, krumping, and popping.  
  • 2023 King of Buck 3v3: Ken Vaega (Lightsaber) won the Global Krump Champion title.  
  • 2023 Krump Aotearoa Nationals: Hosted an All Styles Battle Final.  
  • 2023 Proof of Existence NZ Krump Battle: A Krump battle event held in New Zealand [Y_9, Y_10, Y_11, Y_12].
  • 2023 Land of the Kings Krump Prelims: A Krump prelims event held in New Zealand [Y_13, Y_14].
  • 2024 Britomart Backyard Battles (Koncept Kollision): Held at Takutai Square, Auckland, these events feature one-on-one Krump battles with creative themes such as Disney, Marvel, and Anime.  
  • 2025 World Hip Hop Dance Championship (USA): The New Zealand National Hip Hop Dance Championship serves as a qualifier, with the top five crews representing New Zealand.  
  • 2025 World of Dance New Zealand: Held in Auckland, this competition saw Yung ID (Junior Team) win 1st place, qualifying them for the World of Dance Summit. IHOW NZ (Waacking) also won its qualifiers to compete in Los Angeles.  
  • 2025 World Dance Crew Championship: Scheduled for the Due Drop Events Centre in Auckland, this event will feature elite dance crews from around the world, including Royal Family and ID CO representing Aotearoa, in battles and performances.  
  • Ongoing Body Rock: An annual hip hop dancing competition based in Wellington.  
  • Ongoing NZ National Hip Hop Dance Championship: Recognized as the largest hip hop dance competition in the country.  
  • Ongoing Olympic Breaking Qualifiers: New Zealand participates in Oceanic Olympic qualifiers for Breaking.  
  • Ongoing World of Waacking Battles: Held in Auckland, these battles encourage dancers to represent their ethnic culture through fashion, makeup, or movement.  
  • Ongoing Vogue Events / Ballroom Culture: Various events are held in Auckland and Blenheim, such as the "Pride Wairau Vogue Leather and Lace Ball," featuring groups like House of Coven.  

III. Key People, Leaders, and Crews

This section highlights influential individuals and groups who have significantly contributed to the New Zealand street dance scene.

• Individuals:
  • Petelo: A New Zealand Samoan cousin who, after returning from Samoa, introduced "bopping" (popping and breaking) to Wellington in 1982.  
  • K.O.S.-163 / Kosmo Faalogo: A pivotal figure in the 1980s Wellington hip hop scene, he introduced "popping" to New Zealand after a visit to Los Angeles. He was instrumental in forming early hip hop groups and dance crews.  
  • Justin Campbell (aka Dr Baggy): An early New Zealand b-boy who appeared in the 1984 music video for Irene Cara's "Breakdance".  
  • Vinny Viule (later DJ Rock-It V): Another early New Zealand b-boy who was part of the burgeoning Wellington scene.  
  • Joe Moana: A dancer whose cameo segments in the 1984 "Poi E" music video marked the first time hip hop dance elements were widely seen with a local recording in New Zealand.  
  • Mark Scott and Peter Black: Authors of the 1985 book Street action Aotearoa, which documented the "bop" phenomenon.  
  • Dean Hapeta (Te Kupu / D-Word): Leader of Upper Hutt Posse, a poet and orator who used music to fight racial injustice and incorporate Te Reo Māori.  
  • DLT (Darryl Thomson / DLT Slick): DJ for Upper Hutt Posse and a significant influence on the Auckland scene, he established the influential True Skool Hip Hop Show.  
  • DJ Andy Vann: Founder of the Voodoo Rhyme syndicate, he discovered and promoted many young hip hop acts in South and West Auckland through talent contests.  
  • DJ Ned Roy: Winner of the 1989 Auckland DJ competition.  
  • Alan Jansson: Assembled the 1994 Proud compilation album, which helped define the Urban Pasifika style.  
  • Pauly Fuemana: A key figure in OMC, he achieved global success with the multi-million selling single "How Bizarre".  
  • Phillip Fuemana: Co-founder of OMC and founder of Urban Pacifika Records, he was an influential producer who significantly developed the Urban Pasifika sound.  
  • Parris Goebel: A world-renowned New Zealand-born choreographer and dancer of Samoan descent. She founded The Palace Dance Studio, developed the distinctive "Polyswagg" style, and has choreographed for major international artists like Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and Jennifer Lopez.  
  • Mr. Wiggles (USA): An international guest judge at Easy Street Volume 2, known for his expertise in Popping, Bboying, and Rocking, and a member of the Rock Steady Crew and Electric Boogaloos.  
  • Hozin (Korea): An international guest judge at Easy Street Volume 2, celebrated for his musicality in Popping and leader of Real Marvelous Crew.  
  • Thomas "Tommy the Clown" Johnson: The "godfather of krumping," who toured New Zealand in 2007 and hosted "Battlezone" competitions.  
  • Ken Vaega (aka Lightsaber): A prominent New Zealand krumper and a "Global Krump Champion," having won King of Buck 3v3 in 2023 and European Buck Session in 2018. He is also a co-founder of Krump Klub NZ.  
  • Keith (aka A$AP): A member of the NZ Krump community who started dancing in 2017 and hosts Britomart Backyard Battles.  
  • Phoebe J Smith: Author of the 2016 Master of Design thesis "Dancing from the inside out," which explores street dance, social media, and self-identity in Aotearoa.  
  • Billie Jordan: Manager of the Hip Op-eration dance troupe, featured in the documentary Hip Hop-eration.  
  • Kara "Bang Bang" Nelson, Maynie "Quicksilver" Thompson, Terri "2-cents" Wool-Moore Goodwin: Elderly members of the Hip Op-eration dance troupe, whose journey to the Las Vegas Hip Hop International championships was documented.  
  • Joshua Cesan: Director of Identity Dance Company (IDCO).  
  • Elvin Wong: Choreographer/Mentor at IDCO, who began his dance journey in breakdancing in 2010.  
  • Raych Tapsell: Choreographer/Mentor at IDCO, who has been a member since 2013 and received bronze medals at the World Hip Hop Championships.  
  • Brady Peeti: A proud transgender Wāhine Māori performer featured in contemporary Vogue events like the "Pride Wairau Vogue Leather and Lace Ball".  
• Crews/Groups/Organizations:
  • Bronx Mothers, Freakazoids, Southside Home Boys: Early informal and semi-formal breakdance crews in the 1980s, known for their distinctive names and choreographed acts.  
  • Chain Reaction, Twilite Thrillz: Early dance crews formed by Kosmo and others in Wellington during the 1980s.  
  • The Mau, Rough Opinion, Footsouljahs: Hip hop groups formed by Kosmo in Wellington, with "The Mau" honoring Samoan independence.  
  • The Wanderers, Temple Jones, Hamofide: Other groups that emerged from Wellington's vibrant underground scene in the late 1980s.  
  • Upper Hutt Posse (UHP): Formed in 1985, this group is recognized as the progenitor of hip hop music in Aotearoa, known for fusing hip hop with Māori culture and political messages.  
  • Voodoo Rhyme Syndicate: A collective that thrived in the late 1980s, promoting dozens of young hip hop acts in South and West Auckland.  
  • Pātea Māori Club: Gained national recognition with their 1984 hit "Poi E," which blended breakdancing rhythms with traditional Māori music.  
  • Moana and the Moahunters: A popular Māori group in the 1990s that incorporated hip hop music into their style.  
  • Sisters Underground: Achieved mainstream success with "In the Neighbourhood" (1994), the first top ten single in the Urban Pasifika style.  
  • OMC: Co-founded by Phillip Fuemana, this group achieved global success with "How Bizarre" (1995), significantly contributing to Auckland's reputation as a cultural center.  
  • Urban Pacifika Records: A record label founded by Phillip Fuemana, crucial in developing and promoting the Urban Pasifika sound.  
  • ReQuest: Parris Goebel's first dance group, formed when she was 15.  
  • The Palace Dance Studio: Founded by Parris Goebel's family in 2009, it became a powerhouse for producing internationally successful dance crews.  
  • The Royal Family: A dance crew led by Parris Goebel, which achieved unprecedented success by winning the World Hip Hop Dance Championship three times consecutively.  
  • DZIAH (later Prestige): An internationally competitive New Zealand hip hop dance crew that gained recognition in the early 2000s.  
  • Identity Dance Company (IDCO): Established in Auckland in 2008, this company is world-renowned for its unique style and has won numerous national and international Hip Hop International medals.  
  • Hip Op-eration: An elderly dance troupe from Waiheke Island whose journey to the Las Vegas Hip Hop International championships was documented in the film Hip Hop-eration.  
  • Krump Klub NZ: A community initiative co-founded by Ken Vaega, dedicated to the development of Krump in New Zealand.  
  • House of Coven: A vogue house that participates in and showcases ballroom culture at events like the "Pride Wairau Vogue Leather and Lace Ball".  
  • IHOW NZ (Imperial House of Waackers NZ Chapter): The New Zealand chapter of a worldwide Waacking association, which won New Zealand's World of Dance qualifiers.  
  • Yung ID: A junior team from Identity Dance Company (IDCO) that won 1st place in the Junior Team Division at World of Dance New Zealand 2025, qualifying for the World of Dance Summit.  
  • NZ Federal Association of Teachers of Dancing Inc. (NZFATD): An organization that promotes various dance forms, including Hip Hop, and awards teacher qualifications, contributing to formalized training pathways.  
  • Step Out Dance Company: A leading dance school in Wellington that offers comprehensive instruction in various styles, including Hip Hop.  
  • Projekt: An organization that hosts Britomart Backyard Battles.