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 episode, we unpack:

1. The Origins & Global Roots

• Voguing’s birth in 1960s Harlem, USA, as an artform of African American and Latino LGBTQ+ communities (Paris Is Burning as pivotal inspiration).
• Signature elements—fashion magazine-influenced poses, Egyptian iconography, and sharp body movements.
• Cultural impact and sanctuary ballroom culture provided, especially for Black/Latino queer and transfeminine people.
• The global ‘vogue explosion’ after Madonna’s “Vogue” (1990) and the worldwide influence of Paris Is Burning.

2. Arrival & Adaptation in Aotearoa

• The first balls in Ōtara, South Auckland (2013), at Tapu Te Ranga Marae—significance for Māori and Pacific queer communities.
• The founding of FAF SWAG Arts Collective in Auckland by Pati Salomona Tyrell and Tanugago.
• Ballroom as “chosen family” and radical cultural adaptation for indigenous and diaspora communities facing both racism and queerphobia.

3. Architecture of the Scene: Houses, Stars, and Safe Havens

• The rise of iconic houses: House of Coven-Carangi, House of Aitu, House of Iman, Kiki House of Marama (Wellington), House of Givenchy, and Avant House of Dawn.
• The living legends: Mother Mistress Coven-Carangī (scene’s godmother), Tanu Gago, Pati Salomona Tyrell, Mother Honey Givenchy, Cara Mara & Romay, Mother Venus, Godfather Sam.
• House structures as surrogate families—mentorship, life skills, competition, and fierce love.
• “007s” (free agents) and the organic flow of new houses and talent.

4. Balls, Battles & Community

• Signature events: Legacy Vogue Ball, Fictional Ball, Metalliball, Dusk Till Dawn & Through the Eras Kiki Balls, A Hula Fashion Week, Battle Zone.
• The move from grassroots marae venues to national arts centres and Te Papa museum.
• Workshops and educational events from FAF SWAG to Kiki House of Marama—building skills and preserving authenticity.

5. Cultural Impact & Ongoing Journey

• Ballroom as sanctuary and tool for radical self-love and empowerment, especially for queer Māori/Pasifika youth and artists.
• The vital role of cultural restoration: spaces for “queer brown bodies” to thrive, challenging conservative Pākehā norms and colonial values.
• Scene’s evolving inclusivity, mainstream visibility, and the joys/challenges of greater recognition.

6. Timeline of Pivotal Moments

• 1960s Harlem origins → 1990s globalisation → 2013’s Aotearoa debut, house formations, major events.
• Recent landmark balls, art residencies, and government honours—plus a look ahead to rising regions and future plans (Blenheim, Te Papa events in 2025).

Tune in for shimmering stories, iconic moments, and a celebration of resilience—where every duckwalk, dip, and pose is a victory against erasure. As the scene grows, we ask: how can we help every future star’s freak flag truly fly?

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 into national competitions and community initiatives
• From niche interest to recognized part of NZ street dance fabric

International Recognition

• Korean wacker Waacxy's documented visit
• Global spotlight on NZ whacking scene
• Cultural exchange and skill development

Philosophy & Future

• Dance with purpose, deeply rooted locally
• Creating safe, expressive spaces
• Fostering community bonds and resilience
• Balancing global influences with authentic Aotearoa spirit

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 tapestry of the scene: from early days of “bopping” on the streets, through era-defining competitions and the global rise of Kiwi icons, to today’s tension between freestyle and choreography, grassroots authenticity and mainstream success. We examine the challenges around commercialization, stylistic silos, and debates about “authenticity” vs. innovation—while shining a light on projects and people actively building bridges: all-styles battles, mentorship networks, and organizations championing both tradition and invention.

Meet the pioneers, crews, and collectives shaping Aotearoa’s movement legacy. Join us for an honest conversation about unity, division, and what it will take for NZ to keep defining—and honouring—its street dance voice for generations to come.

• Origins & Local Adaption:
  Street dance’s arrival in NZ was shaped by American pop culture and direct Pacific kinship ties, giving the movement unique Māori and Samoan roots early on—evident in local terms (“bopping”) and the fusion with traditional cultural movement.

• From Streets to Studios:
  The transition from outdoor jams to formalised competitions and studios boosted recognition—but also sparked ongoing questions about authenticity, access, and commercial pressures.

• Philosophical Divides:
  Freestyle (“Don’t Fake the Funk”) and choreography (“Fake it ’til you make it”) underpin distinct communities and approaches. Other lines appear between b-boying and krump, and in ballroom/vogue/waacking scenes, where safe spaces for marginalized identities are essential but may feel separate from the mainstream.

• Community and Key Figures:
  Notables like Kosmo Faalogo, DJ Tee Pee, Joe Moana, Dean Hapeta, DLT, Andy Vann, Ken Vaga, Aelo pea Watchman, Parris Goebel, and Brady Peeti have defined and pushed innovation, while pioneering crews like Bronx Mothers, Upper Hutt Posse, The Royal Family, IDCO, and House of Iman have built lasting legacies.

• Emerging Styles, New Challenges:
  Newer forms (Litefeet, Krump, Vogue) fuel creativity but sometimes operate in silos.
  Competitions like HHI NZ, Red Bull Dance Your Style, and Project Feel Good all-styles events are key unifying platforms but also highlight differences.

• Cultural Tensions & Commercialization:
  The commercial success of large events and crews (Royal Family, IDCO) brings opportunity, but the risk of “selling out” or cultural appropriation stirs debate, echoing wider NZ concerns around indigenous culture and ownership (haka, etc).

• Unity-Building & Future Directions:
  Grassroots and mentorship initiatives, community events, and youth and LGBTQ+-centered collectives are actively breaking down barriers and fostering safe spaces.
  Social media and YouTube broaden access but can threaten local flavour and deep historical knowledge—making education and intergenerational dialogue crucial.

• Looking Ahead:
  NZ’s scene is at a crossroads: Will competition and commercial pressures drive the future, or will unity, history, and cultural pride take center stage? The answer will shape NZ’s role as a world leader in not just skill, but in innovative, meaningful, and deeply rooted dance culture.

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 spotlight remarkable pioneers—like Kosmo Faalogo, Joe Ashvitua, Ken Vaiga, Anelo paea Watchman, and Paris Goebel—and reveal how underground battles, community sessions, and dance collectives (like Project Team, Lighthouse Phams, En Beat Dance Academy, 13th World and The Palace) are redefining what winning, wellness, and cultural authenticity really mean.

Relying on dancers’ real stories, landmark documentaries, and community research, we’ll show how “beauty and the ugly”—the deeper philosophy and purpose behind the movement—keeps NZ’s dance scene alive, evolving, and inspiring.

1. Deep Roots, Local Flavor:
NZ’s street dance scene didn’t just imitate American and global trends—it transformed them, with Pacific and Māori influences (from “bopping” to Urban Pasifika to PolySwagg) giving the movement unique identity and power.

2. Foundation and Innovation:
Pioneers like Kosmo Faalogo, Joe Ashvitua, Ken Vayiga (“Lightsaber”), Anelo paea Watchman, and Paris Goebel drove innovation, global wins, and community outreach, while emphasizing learning roots and creative self-expression.

3. Crump and Breaking—Beauty in the Ugly:
Crump, in particular, is a transformative outlet for emotion, offering spiritual release, mental health benefits, and strong community support; breaking’s path to the Olympics mainstreams street styles while sparking fresh debates on authenticity and skill.

4. Collective Power, Yet Internal Divides:
Dancers cite supportive “families” in sessions and crews, yet division persists between dance styles, with some scenes (b-boy, krump, choreography) rarely cross-pollinating or deeply collaborating. The competitive circuit, while creating opportunities, risks overshadowing artistry and wellness.

5. Challenges: Competition Focus, Ageism, Digital Influence:
The pressure of raising tens of thousands for overseas competitions, the undervaluing of experienced dancers past age 25, and the double-edged sword of learning/copying online all challenge the depth and sustainability of the scene.

6. Hope in Community and Creation:
Innovative groups and individuals—like Project Team’s KOAU, Beat Dance Academy, Lighthouse Phams, and the kids’ Crump Club—are nurturing resilience, creativity, and inclusion for dancers of all ages, backgrounds, and styles.

7. Dance as Lifelong Art and Social Change:
The most vital shift ahead? Redefining success as more than medals: valuing mental health, cross-style learning, history, personal voices, and the bold beauty that can arise from embracing even the “ugly” emotions through movement.