Many enjoy contest

Press, 16 April 1984, Page 8

Many enjoy contest

Almost 7000 people turned out to watch 11 teams compete in the National Bopping and Break Dance Challenge at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday. The contest was organised by the Nga Hau E Wha national marae and sponsored by Radio Avon. Among the prizes were two handsome silver cups and a specially carved shield. Events fell into two categories, “display” and “challenge.” In the first a team took the stage to perform a group routine. In the second, one to four members from each side did a piece and were then matched by members of the opposing team while the rest clapped to show their support and also joined in. Seven of the teams

entered yesterday were Canterbury teams, two were from Invercargill, one from Auckland, and one from Wellington. The mostly young audience was noisy in its encouragement and seemed to enjoy the event hugely. An Invercargill team called the Midnight Rockers left Invercargill at 3 a.m. to reach yesterday’s contest and arrived just before it started. Its efforts were rewarded when it won the “routine” section of the competition with a ?500 prize. The inaugural Nga Hau E Wha National Bop and Break Dance Shield was competed for by teams from the North Island and the South Island. The North Island team won the shield

and ?500 prize money. The women’s Bop and Break Dance United Youth Society Cup was won by the Christchurch girls of the Cosmic Stars and the Maiden Rockers. The Otimi Bop and Break Dance United Youth Society Cup for men was retained by the Auckland team attending the contest. It has so far managed to defend the cup against challenges by Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch. Proceeds from gatetakings at yesterday’s contest will go towards the marae and the United Youth Society. The next event on the dance calendar is the South Island bop and break dance championships, to be held in Invercargill on May 26.