Brylee Gibbes
There’s a silver lining from Brylee Gibbes’ time at the 2023 World Hip Hop Dance Championships.
The 18-year-old Te Awamutu hip hop dancer – Waikato and Waipā’s sole representative at the event in Phoenix, Arizona – took a gap year after finishing school at Te Awamutu College last year to pursue her dream to compete there.
Now, at the culmination of more than seven months’ work, she’ll return home having won a silver medal as part of dance crew Yung ID earlier this month.
One of two Auckland-based Identity Dance Company crews Brylee danced with, Yung ID – a combined crew in the JV MegaCrew division – was runner up behind Thailand’s Awesome Junior Megacrew.
In an overall field of more than 330 crews from 40 different countries, the other crew Brylee danced with, an all-girls group called Masque, placed sixth in the world.
Brylee turns 19 soon, and with both crews she danced with this year part of what’s known as the varsity category – open to dancers between 13 and 18 – it marks the last time she can dance competitively with those specific groups.
But, with Brylee still overseas until the end of August, mum Lanah Gibbes – a Te Awamutu Primary School teacher – told The News her daughter’s set to move up into adult division crews after an “absolute high point”.
“It’s just incredible. Watching the live stream was, at times, so nerve wracking. But she’s coming home with a medal,” Lanah smiled.
“I’d say it’s probably one of the most exciting moments of this dance journey so far – even for both crews to respectively make the top eight was just epic.”
That’s saying something – Brylee’s been dancing for about 15 years – with Drury Lane, Te Awamutu School of Dance and Imperious Dance Company.
Other Kiwi success stories form the championships – after Identity had a total of six teams in the finals – included the boys’ varsity crew, The Swaggernauts, placing second behind Japanese crew Kana-Boon!
Another Kiwi crew, The Outkasts, were third.
“We’re all super proud of them too,” Lanah said.
“But the word proud is definitely becoming overused – I’ve used it so much recently it’s ridiculous.
“Ultimately though, I think what I’m most proud of is that Brylee set her goal and, knowing what she wanted to achieve, she took a gap year and went for it.
“I know I’m her mum – but Brylee’s a pretty awesome kid really, her work ethic is right up there. It always has been when it comes to dance because it’s her life-long dream.”
Meanwhile, Brylee’s already giving back to the next generation, Lanah said.
Her dance journey began at Puahue School, where she took up Jump Jam.
Then, in Year 8 at Te Awamutu Intermediate School, Brylee was part of a group which won the Jump Jam nationals.
For the last five years since Brylee moved on to Te Awamutu College, she’s continued teaching Jump Jam at the intermediate school, second-in charge under another teacher.
“She just gives back because she wants to, and that’s been amazing for her dad Chris and I to see as parents,” Lanah said.
“If her dance story encourages even just one other young person to believe their dreams can come true, it’s absolutely worth it.”
