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Breaking Barriers: From Christchurch Cyphers to K-Pop Stages
What do a world-champion breaking crew from earthquake-ravaged Christchurch and New Zealand's "Queen of K-Pop" have in common? They're both redefining what it means to represent Aotearoa on the global dance stage.
In this episode, we follow two incredible journeys that showcase the diversity and depth of New Zealand's street dance scene. First, we head south to Christchurch – the unlikely "breaking capital" of New Zealand – to meet Common Ground Crew, the three-time world champions whose 2010 Las Vegas victory stunned the international hip hop community. Discover how B-Boys Leerok and Grub-D turned their city's concrete into a training ground, and why their motto "Inspire before expire" drives a breaking scene that treats dance as meditation and community as family.
Then we shift to Auckland's commercial dance powerhouse, where Rina Chae built an empire bridging East and West. From backing Beyoncé to choreographing for K-Pop superstars like BoA and Monsta X, Rina's journey from Street Candee Dance Company to the Candee Collective reveals how Asian identity, waacking culture, and global ambition collide in modern New Zealand.
What You'll Discover:• How Christchurch produces world-class breakers despite having fewer dancers than Auckland• The underground waacking and voguing scene empowering women and LGBTQ+ communities
• Rina Chae's path from identity struggles to becoming the "Mother" of Imperial House of Waacking NZ• Why Common Ground Crew's 2010 world title upset changed New Zealand breaking forever• The rise of K-Pop dance culture and its impact on commercial dance training• How natural disasters and cultural barriers became fuel for artistic excellence
Featured Stories: The moment two Christchurch B-Boys shocked Las Vegas, Rina's first encounter with street dance, the evolution from Street Candee to Candee Collective, and how "Ladies of Hip Hop Aotearoa" is changing the game for women in street dance.
From basement training sessions to international stages, this is how two very different crews conquered the world while staying true to their New Zealand roots.
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By Street Dance TalksWhat do a world-champion breaking crew from earthquake-ravaged Christchurch and New Zealand's "Queen of K-Pop" have in common? They're both redefining what it means to represent Aotearoa on the global dance stage.
In this episode, we follow two incredible journeys that showcase the diversity and depth of New Zealand's street dance scene. First, we head south to Christchurch – the unlikely "breaking capital" of New Zealand – to meet Common Ground Crew, the three-time world champions whose 2010 Las Vegas victory stunned the international hip hop community. Discover how B-Boys Leerok and Grub-D turned their city's concrete into a training ground, and why their motto "Inspire before expire" drives a breaking scene that treats dance as meditation and community as family.
Then we shift to Auckland's commercial dance powerhouse, where Rina Chae built an empire bridging East and West. From backing Beyoncé to choreographing for K-Pop superstars like BoA and Monsta X, Rina's journey from Street Candee Dance Company to the Candee Collective reveals how Asian identity, waacking culture, and global ambition collide in modern New Zealand.
What You'll Discover:• How Christchurch produces world-class breakers despite having fewer dancers than Auckland• The underground waacking and voguing scene empowering women and LGBTQ+ communities
• Rina Chae's path from identity struggles to becoming the "Mother" of Imperial House of Waacking NZ• Why Common Ground Crew's 2010 world title upset changed New Zealand breaking forever• The rise of K-Pop dance culture and its impact on commercial dance training• How natural disasters and cultural barriers became fuel for artistic excellence
Featured Stories: The moment two Christchurch B-Boys shocked Las Vegas, Rina's first encounter with street dance, the evolution from Street Candee to Candee Collective, and how "Ladies of Hip Hop Aotearoa" is changing the game for women in street dance.
From basement training sessions to international stages, this is how two very different crews conquered the world while staying true to their New Zealand roots.