What is Street Dance?

Join us as we uncover how Auckland—Tāmaki Makaurau—became the epicenter of a uniquely Kiwi movement, forever changing the way house music and dance are expressed in the Pacific.

We map the pioneering path from the first inspired jams and local tracks, to the rise of influential venues like Kinetic Dance Studio, HIT Dance Studio and En Beat Dance Academy. Discover the role of legacy spaces like Grey Lynn Community Center, Empire...

This episode takes you on a journey through four decades of movement, community, and identity in New Zealand’s hip-hop dance world.

The Arrival & Early Waves (1980s–1990s)

• Popping debuted in NZ in the early 1980s as part of the breakdancing craze, propelled by TV, movies, and strong links with American and Western Samoa.
• “Bopping,” the Samoan-accented adaptation, points to deep Pacific influence in the style’s local roots.
...

Unpack the untold, electrifying story of locking in Aotearoa with this rich, deeply researched episode—a sweeping journey across decades as we trace the roots, rise, and revolution of New Zealand’s locking dance scene.

We open by shining a spotlight on the OGs and early pioneers—the individuals whose flavor, tenacity, and flair laid down the first funk fever in the Kiwi street dance landscape. Meet Locking Lizah and Vaugh Aiono ...

From underground battles to packed theatres and viral online jams, the story of Krump in Aotearoa New Zealand is one of raw energy, community roots, and creative evolution. In this electrifying episode, we trace Krump’s powerful journey on these shores—chronicling the pioneers, legendary battles, family lineages, and the next generation pushing boundaries in the art form.

We begin with the spark that lit up New Zealand’s Krump s...

What happens when a dance born in the glittering underground clubs of 1970s Los Angeles travels halfway across the world and takes root in New Zealand? In this deep-dive episode, we unravel the electrifying story of Waacking—a street dance of fierce expression, resilience, and radical self-celebration—through its journey from its disco-era LGBTQIA+ beginnings to becoming one of Aotearoa’s most dynamic and inclusive dance communitie...

1. Introduction

• Purpose: Distill the artistry, culture, and history of street dance for dancers and enthusiasts.
• Sources: Historical accounts, academic research, dancer oral histories.
• Key themes: “Street dance,” being “well-rounded,” “cultural preservation,” “educate before you recreate.”

2. Hip-Hop Dance Origins: The Bronx (1970s)

• Hip-hop pillars: DJing, rapping, graffiti, breakdance.
• DJ Kool Herc: Jamaican roots, inno...

Join us on a dazzling study into the electric world of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Vogue Ballroom scene—where self-expression, community, and queerness sparkle brighter than stage lights. This episode traces the journey from Harlem’s underground runways to South Auckland’s marae halls, exploring how a global movement rooted in resistance became a beacon of cultural restoration, chosen family, and Pacific pride in New Zealand.

In this...

Journey to Aotearoa

• How a LA street dance found new identity in New Zealand
• Cultural transformation across continents

Pioneering Figures

• Haley Waters-Tekahika: South Auckland roots, Māori heritage, Founded Prowl Productions (2022) - creating safe spaces for femme and street dance styles
• Rina Chae: Empowering female dancers, bridging commercial and street dance worlds

Building the Scene

• Integrating whacking in...

Setting the Stage

• Deep dive into New Zealand's street dance culture
• Beyond just the moves - focusing on people, places, and pivotal moments

Global Roots & Musical DNA

• Origins in 1980s Bronx and LA street scenes
• James Brown's influence on funk styles
• West Coast flavor development

Early Pioneers & Personal Journeys

• Key figures who championed these styles in NZ
• Stories of dancers starting with popp...

Breaking’s Arrival in Aotearoa

• Explores how breaking (b-boying/b-girling) landed in New Zealand in the early 1980s
• The cultural explosion among thousands of enthusiastic youth inspired by movies and music videos

Foundational Elements of Hip-Hop

• Recognition of breaking as one of hip-hop’s foundational four elements, along with DJing, MCing, and graffiti art
• Importance of the fifth element: Knowledge

Philosophy, R...

• Dive into the dynamic history and cultural evolution of krump dance in Aotearoa/New Zealand
• Explore how krump moved from street battles to theatrical performances, blending raw authenticity with artistic storytelling

• Discussion of the importance and meaning behind earning a krump name—status, discipline, and personal journey
• Spotlight on influential figures and legendary crews, including:
• Ken Veigga (aka Lightsaber/Junior ...

We break down the rich, complex history and cultural weight behind the movements that have shaped communities for decades. This episode cuts through 50+ sources to deliver the essential insights on why these styles matter and how they're changing lives on dance floors worldwide.

Main Topics Covered:

• Street Dance Foundations - Origins in 1970s Bronx and cultural significance

• Locking (Campbell Locking) - West Coast funk roots and fo...

Street dance in Aotearoa New Zealand is far more than footwork and flair—it’s a story of cultural fusion, resilience, and constant change. In this episode, we dive deep into how hip hop, breaking, krump, popping, waacking, vogue, and house came to New Zealand—and how local dancers, especially Māori and Pacific Islander youth, transformed these forms into tools for self-expression and community building.

We unpack the vibrant tapestr...

In this Deep Dive, we venture far beyond footwork and freezes to uncover the soul of street dance in Aotearoa, New Zealand. From humble beginnings influenced by the Bronx, LA, and Pacific kinship ties, to the electrifying intensity of crump and the athletic artistry of breaking on the Olympic stage, discover how New Zealand’s street dance scene has become a force for transformation, identity, and raw expressive power.

We spotlig...

In this energetic episode, we journey through Aotearoa’s street dance and hip hop revolution—from the lone, fearless teens at school discos to world-renowned crews igniting stages from Las Vegas to LA. How did New Zealand become a global force in styles like popping, locking, vogue, krump, hip hop, house, and more? We unpack the deep fusion of American innovations, Pacific Island family ties, and Māori self-expression that created ...

Today, we follow the extraordinary journey from school socials and backyard battles to global competitions, uncorking not just the spectacular artistry but also the less visible divides that shape New Zealand’s dance world.

How did breaking, popping, and b-boying get “bopped” by Māori and Pacific Islander youth in the 1980s? When did NZ’s distinct “Polyswagg” storm the world stage? And what happens when the hunger for winning ta...

Dive into the definitive, play-by-play timeline of New Zealand’s Krump community. Join us as we break down every key decade, every legendary event, and every figure that put Aotearoa on the Krump world map.

In this loaded episode, you’ll hear about:

• Global Origins and First NZ Ripples (Pre-2010)

  • The birth of Krump in 1990s California, pioneered by Thomas “Tommy the Clown” Johnson’s “Clowning” (1992) in Compton.
  • The world-changi...

Settle in for the most thorough episode ever created on the story of hip hop and street dance in New Zealand.

The Genesis: Early 1980s – 1990s

• The “cultural explosion” of breaking in early 1980s Aotearoa—and its rapid embrace by Māori and Pasifika youth.

• The legendary "Bob-Olympics" events

Visionaries shaping the scene:

• Mika Haka: transforming Christchurch’s youth with "colored crew lockers", investing in emerging...

We journey through Aotearoa’s unexpectedly rich hip hop and street dance scene—from its explosive arrival in the 1980s, to the global triumphs of crews like The Royal Family and IDCO. Discover how media, Samoan family ties, and Māori and Pacific Islander creativity uniquely fused to create New Zealand’s signature street flavor.

We unpack not just the success stories, but also the complex issues dancers face: style segregation, t...