Switch Dance Crew Fundraiser to Battlegrounds Australia 2016

Switch Dance Crew to Represent

New Zealand.

Switch Dance Crew, from Be Ignited Studio in Whakatane, have the opportunity to represent New Zealand after winning the Kids Division at the Battlegrounds Hip Hop Competition in Hamilton on Saturday night. The crew will be fundraising to compete in the finals of the World Supremacy Battlegrounds, to be held in Sydney on September 9th-11th.

The seven dancers, ranging from eight to ten years old, all attend schools throughout the Eastern Bay. “The crew has been together since February this year, and many took their first dance classes just last year. To have the opportunity to attend an international competition is mind blowing for us. We feel incredibly blessed.” Studio owner and choreographer, Ms Funtelar Thacker, knows that money will be their biggest hurdle. “We will do our best to raise the funds to get the kids to Sydney, but we care about their families too, and we wouldn’t want them to get into financial hardship. I believe in these kids, and this is the first Whakatane-based crew to have the chance to go international.”

Paige Musgrave (Apanui School), Jade Rika (Awakeri Primary), Maraea-Charms Ngatea (Te Kura o Te Paroa) Laylani McLean-Ringi (Seventh Day Adventist), Ari Stewart-Mason (Allandale School), Kenisha Tauroa-Kaiwhata (Te Kura o Te Paroa), Ashlee McMillan-Hauwai (James Street School) are all new to the crew this year. “This is the youngest crew we’ve had at the studio, other years our junior crew have been made up of 11-12 year olds.”

World Supremacy Battlegrounds is held annually in Sydney, and attract crews from New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines. “There are also dance workshops held throughout the competition days, which we know will help upskill these dancers even further. That knowledge and skill will have a positive flow on effect to our dance community in Whakatane.”

There will be various fundraising events, dance workshops and raffles planned to get them over to Australia. “We need to raise $14,000 in two months. With your support, we believe we can do it.” If you would like to donate or help the crew, you can contact Ronna Funtelar Thacker on 021 1890814, or email beignitedstudio@gmail.com For more information on Be Ignited Studio, check them out on www.beignitedstudio.com or on their Facebook page.