Royal visit proves popular with hip-hop dancers
When one of Parris Goebel’s dance crews announced they were holding a workshop in New Plymouth they expected to have about 40 dancers attend.
Tansi Williams, dance teacher and director of Tansi Productions School of Entertainment (TPSE), knew that wouldn’t work.
‘‘I said ‘you’re going to need a lot more than that’.’’
She was right.
Around 100 local hip-hop dancers gathered in the YMCA Taranaki stadium on Friday for the workshop led by Palace Dance Studio dancer Kirsten Dodgen, who is in the crew they call the Royal Family.
The Palace Dance Studio and the Royal Family were started by award-winning choreographer and dancer Goebel, who has worked with international stars Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Nicky Minaj, Justin Bieber, and Rihanna.
Williams said it was the first time the Palace Dance Studio visited Taranaki to do a show and workshop.
The visit was a part of a nationwide tour but Taranaki dancer Briannah Whakatau is part of the crew and would have helped get the show and workshop to New Plymouth, Williams said.
‘‘I think about the the royal family, they were the trail blazers,’’ Williams said. ‘‘Parris Goebel with her girl crew, a trail blazer.
‘‘There’s so many other amazing crews that have come from it.’’
Williams said ‘‘probably all’’ of her dancers would have gone to the Palace Dance Studio’s show Ignite the Crown at the TSB Showplace on Friday night.
‘‘It’s a real high. For them to see a pathway of the opportunities. It’s so beneficial for us.’’
The dance crews which performed were the Royal Family, ReQuest, Royal Family Variety and Bubblegum.
Royal Family workshop manager Althea Strydom said the dancers enjoy touring around New Zealand and working with aspiring dancers.
‘‘They love it.’’