Christchurch Hip Hop Crew Selected to Represent NZ

Christchurch Hip Hop Crew Selected to Represent NZ

A Hip-Hop dance crew from Zion Studios in Christchurch has been selected to represent New Zealand at the World Hip-Hop Dance Championship in the Caribbean in December this year.

The “Polaroids” crew were chosen after winning the Adult Crew category at the National Hip-Hop Unite Competition on July 25th.

The Head Judge of the National Championships said “We are not compelled to select crews for the World Championship. It is an expensive exercise, a long way to go and requires a lot of hard work. We only select a crew if we truly believe they have a real chance to take it out”.

Zion Studio Manager Carissa Crow says “Selection for the World Championships was almost an unspoken dream, the biggest ever accolade for Zion. It is the result of an enormous amount of commitment and passion and will be inspirational and aspirational for all of our students.”

Teams from over 16 countries will be competition in the 2015 Hip Hop Unite World Championship on the Caribbean island of Martinique this December. Currently Zion’s “Polaroid” crew is the only team chosen to represent New Zealand.

“We’re not quite sure how we’re getting the team there yet,” says Finance Manager Barb Watson, “but we will. This is a massive opportunity to represent New Zealand on their world stage, and we’re not going to let this opportunity pass by.”

Costs to get the Zion “Polaroids” dance crew to Martinque are currently estimated at $7000 each for the nine person crew

Zion Studios is a Papanui dance school that aims to make dance as accessible to as many local youth as possible. Many of the senior “Polaroids” dance crew donate their time, teaching the beginner and intermediate classes to help keep costs low.

“There’s much more to Zion than dance,” says Carissa Crow. “The emphasis is really on building respect and community.

We provide a safe environment and means for young people to express themselves. We really talk and engage with the people we teach, and have seen lives turned around as a result.”

Studio Manager Carissa Crow says any donation will help. "Please visit and donate via our Give A Little page. Any support is hugely appreciated." https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/zion2martinique#.

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