Stalwart breakdancer still moving
It all began watching a Run-DMC video as a teen for dancer Kent Christensen.
The Sydney resident and breakdancer of 20-years is back in his birthplace of Auckland to promote The Red Rat Battle of the Year 2016 breakdancing competition in Mangere.
The event will feature dancers from 15 different countries around the Pacific who will compete for a place at The Battle of the Year World Finals in Germany in October - the pinnacle event of international breakdancing.
A former Eden Terrace resident, Christensen first learned to dance by watching VHS tapes that were passed round breakers when he was a teenager in the 90s.
‘‘That’s how we kind of learned. Somebody travelled to America, brought one over and dubbed it, and all of Auckland pretty much got that one dubbed version until it was worn out.’’
Learning the art form was all about ‘‘trial and error’’ which inevitably involved a lot of bumps and bruises, he says.
Christensen says competition dancing is an improvised art form. ’’Breaking is a real freestyle so everything you see is not rehearsed.’’ The Red Rat Battle of the Year International Pacific Qualifier kicks-off on Saturday August 13 at the Mangere Arts Centre, corner of Bader Drive and Orly Ave. Visit eventfinda.co.nz for more information.