Hip-hop star off to World Champs

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 for the finals. “After the process of prelims, semi-finals and finals, it’s so amazing, little Nelson representing the South Island. And then, within that Nelson team there is a Golden Bay person; it’s pretty special.”

Golden Bay’s latest world class achiever is fifteen-year-old hip-hop dancer Maya Lampen-Nigl.

In October her dance crew “Unspoken” are heading off to the Hip-Hop Unite World Championships in Portugal. The three-day long competition showcases over 1000 top hip-hop dancers from 18 countries around the world.

Unspoken, from Nelson’s Born&Raised Academy, was unanimously selected by all six judges at the recent National Hip-Hop Championships in Wellington, and is one of five groups making up Team New Zealand.

The nine dancers in Unspoken are all aged between 13 and 16, considered the prime age for hip-hop. Talent aside, it has taken sheer hard work to qualify for such a high-level event. The group has proven their commitment and professionalism repeatedly, with four wins last year alone - at Impact Dance Experience Regionals in Christchurch, Wellington and Nelson, plus Nelson’s Shakedown Dance Championships.

Particularly challenging for Maya, who is studying NCEA Level One at Golden Bay High School, is that exams begin shortly after her return from Portugal. But with support from school, she is determined her schoolwork will not suffer.

With only three months to raise $5000 for Maya’s trip, Jan is currently “on a mission” to get sponsorship from Golden Bay businesses.

Maya recently wowed the audience with a sizzling solo performance at GBHS Lipsync where her passion was undeniable. “For me, dancing feels so freeing, I can just let go,” she explains. “To be dancing and doing something I love, and having it acknowledged, and going to ‘Worlds’ - it’s all just so amazing.”

For more information, see Facebook or email: bornandraisedacademy@gmail.com.

Instagram: @bornandraisedacademy

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Maya began learning different dance styles from age six, from tap to jazz, freestyle and American Latin. But it was hiphop that inspired her at age 12 to audition at the Born&Raised Academy for a place in a competition team. She was first selected for the junior team then, this year, was accepted into Unspoken, the top senior team.

Maya’s grandmother and biggest supporter Jan Jackson, who has transported her to all her rigorous training sessions says that Unspoken was the only South Island team to qualify books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store. The solutions will be published here in the next issue.