- By Jenna Edwards
Two talented Pakuranga College dancers are off to Arizona in the United States to compete in the World Hip Hop Dance Championship from August 3-10.
Emily Cooper, who’s in year 10, and year 12 pupil Emily Muir are performing in the Rangers crew from east Auckland’s Jaye’s Dance Studio, alongside former Pakuranga College pupil Alexia Hamilton.
The Rangers crew has competed in the Hip Hop International New Zealand competition for the past three years, but this is the first time they’ve placed in the top five and qualified to take their talents to the world stage.
Emily says: “We’ve been training hard and it shows. We improved our result at the Hip Hop International New Zealand competition by six places this year, but we can do more in the lead-up to Arizona.
“We’re training for three hours until 10pm on Tuesday nights currently and will be doing five-hour days in the holidays before flying out to Worlds.”
The crew is competing in the Varsity division and for many of the group it’s the last year they’ll qualify for the category, which caters to dancers aged 13-17.
For Muir and Hamiton, it will be their first time competing in the World Championships, while Cooper has experience dancing in Arizona with another Jaye’s crew, Scouts, which competed in the Junior division in 2023.
Cooper says: “Having experience at Worlds is great. Knowing what to expect I don’t think I’ll be as nervous as I was last year.
“But the Varsity section is much more challenging, so I’m sure there will still be some nerves!
“The Rangers crew is amazing and as this is the last year in Varsity for many members of the group we’re just eager to give it our all and do ourselves proud on stage.”
Muir adds, “Going to Worlds is a dream. Most of us have experience dancing in other international competitions, but this is the pinnacle.
“We’re going into it with positive a mindset and belief in our team and our preparation.”
