Article added: Monday 09 September 2024

by Zoe Hunter

Manurewa Intermediate may not have brought the winning hip hop moves - but the movement they’ve created will change lives. 

The South Auckland hip hop crew was one of 30 schools to battle it out in the Zespri AIMS Games’ biggest-ever hip hop competition at Mercury Baypark on Saturday.

Auckland schools dominated the competition, with Bucklands Beach Intermediate placing first, Somerville Intermediate School in second, and Baradene College in third.

For Manurewa, however, hip hop is more than just dance. 

Choreographer Di Tanaki said hip hop isn’t just about one crew - it’s about a whole community.

“Hip hop saves lives, hip hop brings people out of misery and gives them joy. It is more than just a dance. It is a lifestyle, a culture, a family.”

Tanaki said hip hop was a powerful tool. 

“We grew up with nothing, just like everybody else in South Auckland,” he said. “But we did grow up with a passion and a dream.”

On the back of the dancers’ shirts were the words: “Don’t talk about it, be about it”.

It is a quote that resonates with Tanaki.

“I heard it one day when I was dancing. Me and my boys, we were lacking in our energy. The coach said: ‘Don’t talk about it, be about it.”

The words encouraged them to stop mucking about and strive for greatness.

“I’ve held that quote ever since,” Tanaki said.

The school fundraised about $4000 to get to the AIMS Games, selling brownies, merchandise, and donations. They also held a school concert to help get the team to Tauranga for the week-long tournament.

“We are lucky to be here. We are very grateful.”

The 728 hip hop crew established in 2016 and it was Manurewa’s third time at the tournament.

However, this year’s AIMS crew had only been dancing together for two weeks. 

“It’s because outside of school, they’ve had tragedies like people passing away and triumphs too, like weddings. So it’s been hard to get everyone together until the last two weeks.”

Tanaki said while they set their sights on winning, it wasn’t all about the prize.

“If you’re going to do something, you do it to the point where you’re going to win. But it’s also okay if you don’t win. Sometimes, to be a good winner, you have to be a good loser.”

It was a full circle moment for Tanaki coming to AIMS, after he was a student in AIMS hip hop code coordinator Sarah Martin’s dance class at Otahuhu College in 2005.

“At first, she asked me to be in her dance class and I said: ‘nah’,” he said. “But without her, I wouldn’t be doing what I am now.”

Having support crews like that were important, he said.

“I have my boys with me - Jaden Godinet, Iavana Seuala, Ojay Solomona, and Nito Seuala. They are my support crew.”

Martin, from Urban Dance, said it is nice for hip hop to be included in such a big sporting event like the AIMS Games. 

She said this year’s was the biggest hip hop competition at AIMS so far, with a total of 30 schools participating.

“It is nice for hip hop to be recognised as a sport, especially on the back of break dancing being represented at the Olympics,” she said. “And we saw a high calibre.”

Bucklands Beach Intermediate choreographers Jasmine Jones and Mischa Inglis said it was nice to win gold after placing third last year.

“It means the world. We are so proud of the girls.” The pair said they choreographed the moves to suit the dancers they were working with. “And they smashed the choreo.”

Meanwhile, Pāpāmoa College’s eight-strong hip hop crew included mostly ballerinas and a tap dancer.

Dance teacher Janelle Reid said it was something different for the dancers, who had never danced in a hip hop competition before.

“It’s using their skills across different genres and not worrying about what dance school they come from. And it’s a whole lot of fun.”

Tamatea Intermediate School choreographer, Russell Morrell, said hip hop was a great way for students to express themselves.

“We are art-letes. Like athletes, but we are dancing art.”

It was also Mount Maunganui Intermediate School’s Denzel Dance’s first-ever AIMS Games. 

“It is such an honour. I am so grateful for everyone in this team. We have worked so hard to be here.”