Hip hop Deva developing boy zone

Last year 15-year-old Deva Baanvinger Singh began teaching kids’, teenagers’, and adults’ hip hop classes from her High Voltage Hip Hop Company. Now, realising that boys might be more drawn towards a boys-only class, she aims to form Golden Bay’s first boys’ hip hop troupe.

“It’s such a fun thing, hip hop; it’s physically hard and it’s fast,” she says. “I’m hoping to encourage more boys to give it a go and step into it and try something new.”

Hip hop is one of the most popular and influential styles of dance, emerging from hip hop music that originated in the 1970s, popularised by dance crews in the United States. Routines include specific styles such as “popping”, “locking”, and “breaking”.

Deva believes that while Golden Bay’s physical culture is focused more on sports, boys could really relate to hip hop. She creates her routines based on “mash ups”: a set of different songs combined into one, that allows fast changes between different dance styles. Feedback from boys has inspired Deva to do more floorwork, including breakdancing in her boys’ routine. Other popular styles include “tutting” (shapes created by 90-degree angles with the hands), and formation work.

“I’m trying to teach them as many different things as possible in one routine.”

Daughter of local drama director Martine Baanvinger, Deva has been performing all her life. After many years of learning contemporary and classical dance, particularly with Dance Collective Mohua (d.c.m), she was introduced to hip hop and loved it. For the past two years she has attended classes with Dance Motueka and has now reached their highest level. She also hopes to join competitive hip hop groups in Nelson. “I can now bring back what I’m learning with hip hop to Golden Bay.”

Deva, who loves working with kids, is currently teaching around 17 in weekly classes at the Motupipi Hall. She has already performed several showcases to parents and has been invited by other dance companies such as d.c.m to participate in their shows.

“For some kids that’s a highlight, being able to learn the dance and then show it to people on a stage.”

Contact Deva at High Voltage Hip Hop Company, email devasinghnz@gmail.com.