Two and a half weeks ago, I had the privilege of going to Rarotonga. While I was there, I was honoured to find out that someone was excited to have me teach Hip Hop at her Dance School. For two days, I taught kids of all ages Hip Hop. I was also very excited to find out that the Rarotongan News had come to interview me and a few days later had an article in the News about the so-called 'New Zealand Dancing Sensation'. I had an amazing time and would go back in a heartbeat. Manaia Davies, 8JR
Manaia 'NZ Hip Hop Sensation' Manaia gained a lot of confidence at a young age and began to perform for dance shows and competitions. “I love dancing! It’s another language to speak. Instead of talking you can just dance and the emotions just come out and I think that is really special,” she said.
these she incorporates in to most of her dance shows. She said her role model is her mum because she always motivates and pushes her to do her best. “Even when I doubt myself and think I can’t do it, she is always encouraging me and telling me that I can,” Manaia said.
Manaia was just 10 years old when her jazz and contemporary dance teacher asked her to begin teaching hip-hop dance lessons. She now teaches three different classes a week, five-eight, eight-twelve and a class for any age. She also choreographs her own moves.
“I also look up to three-time world hip-hop dance champion Parris Goebel from New Zealand. I have met her a few times and she is so inspiring. Her moves are really simple, but it’s the way she portrays it and expresses her dancing that is captivating.”
“With all my classes, I try to make it for all ages, because I want to give everybody an opportunity. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, if you love dance then don’t let any barrier stop you.”
Rarotonga’s hip hop manager, Areora, said it was awesome to have Manaia here, especially for the children. Manaia plans to open her own dance school to share her love and passion for dancing with everyone.
Manaia also enjoys singing and acting and
“I really want to develop myself more and
Issue 6 / DHS Dispatch
then give what I know to everybody else, so that when I go, it is left with everyone else in the world,” she said. My mum always tells me that an opportunity is a chance that you may never get again, so I try and take every opportunity possible. “It usually makes me better in some way. It doesn’t have to be in dance, it could be in life, but every opportunity has influenced my life somehow.” Excerpt from the Cook Island News, Tuesday 2 June, 2016
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