Mega Deep Dive Special: The Epic History and Timeline of NZ Street Dance

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 leaders, and establishing Torotoro & the Mika Haka Foundation.

The arrival of self-taught pioneers:

• Taupuhi Toki (Bboy Papa Smurf): co-founds ISM (Instance Movement) with Awa and Heath, wins Ross Styla’s national event in 1999.
• Kristiva: from ballroom to hip hop via Usher/Timberlake videos, self-taught then mentored by Mika Haka & Bboy Papa Smurf, soaking up popping, locking, b-boying

Formalization & International Recognition: Early to Mid-2000s

• The 2003 hip-hop boom: new crews, sharper battles, surging competitions.
• Krump lands in New Zealand: massively influenced by Rize (2005); raw, emotionally-charged style spreads via YouTube (NZ Maori 88, Manukau City battles).

Standout crews:

• Triple 8 Funk (top 5 at LA World Hip Hop Champs 2007)
• DZIAH Dance Academy (first NZ crew at World Champs in Vegas)

Diversification & Professionalization: Late 2000s – Early 2010s

• The emergence of diverse, influential teams:
• Hopscotch Dance Crew (Kat Katto Lock Walker & Josh): blending unity, joy, and storytelling
• Highlight: Kiwiana show & Dr. Pauline Hiroti's research on dance’s youth impact
• Justin Haui: contemporary-Street fusion, Pacific Dance Artist in Residence
• RIP Crew (Bridget Carter Chan): legacy of champions & leaders
• Virtue Dance Crew: rapid entry to international comps, high ambition
• The evolving battle scene: events like Rock the Top 1.0 (urban freestyle, Krump, locking)
• Notable national/international achievers: Gabriel Sutton (Bradas Crew/NZ Nationals winner, Battlegrounds), Joshua Felaitua (NZ's Got Talent finalist)
• International exchange: Treason 2013 (with Ruin), showcasing openness and connecting Kiwi dancers to global Krump.

Maturation & Global Connection: 2010s – Present

• The ‘supergroup’ phenomenon and cross-crew collaborations:
• Joshua Mitikalana’s Project Team
• Top dancers floating between crews (e.g. Miley Marshmel Tyloa, Seida Twari)
• Street Candee Company: Rina Chae, Angelika Zueva, Heidi Chen (Pleasure Dome, Dancing With the Stars NZ, Six60)
• Deepened community roots & inclusivity:
• Auckland Popping Community, led by Sijuhan
• WatchMIN Crew
• Christchurch: breaking capital
• Common Ground crew
• Bboy Leerok: world champion
• Big community events:
• Christchurch Hip Hop Summit, Street Talk Summits, Bop Olympics 2.0 (featuring first-gen Aotearoa breakers)
• Global connections & Kiwi impact abroad:
• Rina Chae: scouted by Andre Fuentes (Britney Spears), leads Enbeat Academy with K-pop success (students debuting as idols; teachers with Grande, Minaj)
• K-pop in NZ: Choreographers like Kiel Tutin work with Blackpink
• Ken Vega: Lightsaber Fam founder
• Israel "Stylebender" Adesanya: MMA superstar, “NZ crump OG” (Black Majic) roots

Challenges & Forward Motion: Late 2010s – Today

• Matt Luani’s Beauty in the Ugly (Krump & Pasifika experience), Trent O'Mare on Krump’s supportive energy.
• Queer Aotearoa representation: Club Whack/Prowl Productions (Hayley Walters Tekahika) retell Whacking through a queer POC lens.
• Education gap: lament for local history knowledge (Chris Tiva, Josh Minikalena)