MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
4 JULY, 2013
Local Kiwi Kids Mix It With Best In The World
Thirty-six talented dancers from Wellington City, Lower Hutt, Kapiti and Porirua are about to ignite and experience the
glitz and glamour of performing on the biggest stage in Las Vegas - the World Hip Hop Dance Championships, in August
2013.
Presented by Hip Hop International who co-produces the hit American dance series, America’s Best Dance Crew with Randy
Jackson (American Idol Judge), the World Hip Hop Dance battles is undoubtedly the place to be come August. This is
where New Zealand’s very own Parris Goebel rose to fame to become one of the world’s top choreographers.
Over 40 countries and more than 1000 competitors will descend on the city that never sleeps. Amongst the top hip hoppers
and stars in the world will be 36 local kiwi kids vying to do what New Zealanders are good at – punch above their weight
at the Olympics of hip hop dance.
The team of dancers comprise of three crews – CKC, De La Funk and TCNZ Mega Crew. They have all competed in regional and
national competitions against New Zealand’s best to earn the right to be on the world stage and do what only a few New
Zealanders have done – to represent their country in their sport.
For CKC, these youngsters aged 7-12 years will be making history as the first junior crew from the Wellington region to
take on the best in the world.
“It’s a really exciting feeling. There are so many dancers I look up to and watch on You Tube, but now I get to perform
on the same stage as them. It’s a bit scary, but I’m looking forward to it” says 9 year old Jade Minarapa.
The teams are coached by Ben Uili who will be attending the world event for the fourth time in search for a gold medal
performance.
“It’s certainly the best prepared we have been compared to previous teams I have taken to the official world
championships,” says Uili “Winning the National title in the Mega Crew division has boosted everyone’s confidence. It’s
going to be an experience of a lifetime for these dancers because they’ll get to dance against their idols.”
CKC, De La Funk and TCNZ Mega Crew are teams from The Company NZ dance studio based in Kilbirnie, Wellington. While
these teams prepare for the World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas, another crew from The Company NZ has
successfully defended their National title at the Hip Hop Unite National Competition. Emerge Dance Crew won the teens
division for a third consecutive year and have now qualified to represent NZ at the Hip Hop Unite World Championships in
Serbia, October 2013.
“This achievement by Emerge really adds to a remarkable year for The Company NZ, especially for all the dancers in the
Wellington region because we are really putting New Zealand and Wellington on the world stage, re-enforcing the fact
that we are the arts capital of New Zealand” says Lenny Loh, Crew Manager.
The thirty-six dancers travelling to Las Vegas will be the largest contingent attending the world championship from a
single studio since Auckland’s Palace Dance Studio who won gold in recent years.
The Company NZ is holding three performances to showcase CKC, De La Funk and TCNZ Mega Crew and fundraise for the World
competition.
Fundraising details:
Tittle: Block Party Showcase
When: July 13 2013
Venue: Wellington High School
249 Taranaki Street, WGTN
Times: 2.30pm Matinee | 6.30pm Evening Show
When: July 14 2013
Venue: Nga Purapura - Te Wananga O Raukawa
145 Tasman Road, OTAKI
Time: 5.30pm
ENDS