Oldest Hip Hop Dancers in World Auctioned off Online

Media Release

Wednesday 20th February 2013

Oldest Hip Hop Dancers in World Auctioned off Online

The Hip Op-eration Crew: the world’s oldest hip hop dance group are being auctioned off on a New Zealand online trading website called ‘Trade Me’ under the ‘Antiques and Collectables’ category.

The Crew consists of 41 senior citizens aged 66 to 96 years old from Waiheke Island; small island off the East Coast of New Zealand in the middle of the South Pacific. The dance group want to travel to Las Vegas in August to do a tribute performance at the World Hip Hop Championships so are raising the money they need to get to the USA by selling themselves online.

The successful buyer will get exclusive sponsorship of the Crew, the opportunity to give them a hip hop make-over and brand them, use them for talent in television, print and radio advertising campaigns, have them perform at public or private functions and become part of the support Crew by joining them on their trip to Las Vegas.

“They will also get to become friends with 41 amazing people who have wonderful, adventurous attitudes and over 3,000 combined years of life experience,” says Billie Jordan, Manager of The Hip Op-eration Crew.

“We are open to any type of buyer or sponsor – including an individual or organisation from overseas that could benefit from having an association with a positive and inspirational international publicity platform. Anyone who comes up with the money to buy or sponsor The Hip Op-eration Crew will also make the dreams of 41 people, who don’t have a second chance at this, come true,” says Jordan.

The Hip Op-eration Crew members include Violet, a 96 year old in a wheelchair; four people who use other types of mobility aids (including a zimmer frame and walking sticks), 14 members in their 80s and early 90s, many people who are deaf, and one member who is legally blind. The average age is 76 years old and there are eight men and 33 women in the Crew - including a mother (96 years old) and son (69 years old) and his wife (69 years old).

The group used to be called The World’s Oldest Flash Mob and did surprise performances around Auckland, New Zealand throughout 2012. However, in January 2013 they set themselves up as an official Hip Hop dance group called ‘The Hip Op-eration Crew’.

The group of senior citizens are currently learning cool Hip Hop moves to a music track produced by two young Waiheke Island Hip Hop artists in preparation for the Auckland Regional Championships in New Zealand in March 2013.
After performing a one minute ‘sneak peek’ performance at the Auckland Regional Hip Hop Championships in New Zealand in late March 2013, The Hip Op-eration Crew will then proceed to the New Zealand National Championships in April where they will do their full dance routine and compete against the Royal Family mega crew (the world champions from both 2011 and 2012).

“Although The Hip Op-eration Crew may not be considered skilled enough to win the New Zealand National Championships, they still hope to be able to do a tribute performance at the World Hip-Hop Championships in Las Vegas in August.

“Hip Hop International, the organisers of the World Championships, sometimes invite non-qualifying dance crews to perform at the championships. So The Hip Op-eration Crew are hoping they will let them do a two minute tribute performance at the event to show that, no matter what your age, you can still embrace, respect and celebrate the culture of Hip Hop. Discussions with Hip Hop International to see whether the Crew can perform at the World Championships are already taking place.

“If Hip Hop International does not allow The Hip Op-eration Crew to perform at any of their events, the dance group will still go to Las Vegas and will, instead, just Flash Mob different Hip Hop events and/or large audiences gathering in public places around iconic places in Hollywood and Las Vegas. So, the plan is to go to Las Vegas regardless,” says Jordan.

A feature documentary film about The Hip Op-eration Crew is currently in development to follow the adventures of the Crew from Waiheke Island to Las Vegas during the first eight months of 2013. It is expected to have a cinematic release date of early 2014.

The auction has a start price of NZ$44,000 and closes at 4pm on 20 March 2013. Shipping is free within Auckland. International Shipping is available at the buyer’s expense.

A comprehensive document outlining information about buying or sponsoring The Hip Op-eration Crew can be sourced from their website at:-
www.hipop-eration.com
The Hip Op-eration Crew can also be viewed on Facebook at:-
www.facebook.com/thehipop-erationcrew

Online Auction Listing Information
Auction Website (Trade Me): www.trademe.co.nz
Category: Antiques and Collectables > Other
Listing Title: The Hip Op-eration Crew: For Sale
Sub-Heading: The World’s Oldest Hip Hop Dance Group
Start Price: NZ$44,000
Reserve Price: NZ$440,000
Shipping: Free Shipping within Auckland. International Shipping at Buyer’s Expense.
Closing Date: 4pm, Wednesday 20th March 2013

The Hip Op-eration Crew plan on being in Los Angeles and Las Vegas between 29 July and 15 August 2013.

ENDS

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