Te Awamutu’s Brylee Gibbes – Waipā and Waikato’s sole representative – has headed off to
compete in the 2023 World Hip Hop Dance Championships the United States.
Te Awamutu dancer Brylee Gibbes is hoping to lock in success on the world stage.
The 18-year-old former Te Awamutu College student – who finished school last year – left last Thursday for the 2023 World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Phoenix, Arizona as part of Auckland-based Identity Dance Company.
Taking a gap year in 2023 to pursue her passion for dancing, she is Waipā’s – and Waikato’s – sole representative with the company at the championships, which have attracted more than 330 crews from 40 countries.
She will first appear on stage on day three of the preliminary rounds early tomorrow (Friday) New Zealand time. Brylee – who has been dancing for about 15 years – has experience with Drury Lane, Te Awamutu School of Dance and Imperious Dance Company.
She won her place to compete with Identity after a “strenuous” two-day audition process in January and will take to the stage in two of the company’s crews – an all-girls group called Masque, which will compete in the varsity category open to dancers 13 to 18, and a combined Kiwi crew of up to 40 dancers called Yung ID.
She has previously completed workshops with Identity and “loved it”, she said.
Identity has a history of competing at the championships, and after Yung ID finished second last year, Brylee said their aim is to go one better this year.
The crews – Brylee included – have been training up to eight hours day, five days a week to prepare. She has commuted to Auckland for that training, and the signs are positive.
Both crews qualified for the world championships after Yung ID placed first in New Zealand and Masque – in which there can be a maximum on nine dancers on stage – placed third at the New Zealand Hip Hop International World Championship qualifier in April.
“I almost can’t believe this is real, dance is just magic,” Brylee told The News of her love of the craft.
“Honestly, I’m so excited – more excited than nervous. It’s something I’ve been dreaming of since I was 12 when I first saw Masque compete.
“I love performing for people and being on stage – and in dance, you make so many friends and become tight with people so quickly.”
Brylee first started dancing in jazz, before shifting to hip hop.
Brylee Gibbes
“What I like most about hip hop is that there is such freedom, everyone is their own person with their own style and that’s what makes them different and amazing.
“Competition wise, I love that when you watch a routine as a whole, everyone looks crisp and in sync. There is uniqueness, while at the same time being completely collaborative.”
Brylee said judges will be looking to ensure Masque and Yung ID complete routines which – among other criteria – feature at least three different styles of hip hop, which can include among others crumping, popping and locking and “new school” dance steps.
“We’ll also be looking to put our own little twist on things,” Brylee said.
Following the preliminary world championship rounds, the top 20 crews from each of the roughly six categories go through to the next round.
The finals – featuring the top eight crews – are set for next Monday, August 7 New Zealand time.
Following the world championships, the Identity crews will head to Los Angeles for guest performances at the World of Dance convention and Flip the Switch 2023.
Brylee is known to readers of The News already – a year ago she took part in the 10th New Zealand Youth Parliament as
the Taranaki-King Country Youth MP.
“That was so much fun. I loved the experience and made so many different connections and friends,” she said.
