Bay's De Visu Dance Crew compete on world stage in Glasgow

AWESOME: De Visu dance crew performing at the finals of the UDO World Hip Hop Championships in Glasglow. Photo/Supplied.

They may not have won a medal, but a group of Bay dancers can still hold their heads up high after making the finals of the UDO World Street Dance Championships.

Sarah Martin, the creative director of Urban Dance Youth Trust, said 10 members of the trust's De Visu Dance Crew competed at the international champs in Glasgow last month.

The dancers, aged 13 to 19, eight from Tauranga and one each from Matamata and Whakatane, placed third in the preliminary section of the competition.

Ms Martin said De Visu were one of only six crews that qualified to compete in the finals but they did not place in the medals.

"That's an awesome achievement given 6000 dancers from 42 nations competed for top honours," she said.

A dance crew from the Netherlands were named world champions, and two British crews placed second and third.

Ms Martin said she was "incredibly proud" of her young charges, who competed with 100 per cent commitment, passion, and huge pride on the world stage.

"These competitions are not just about winning titles, but it gives our dancers a huge confidence and morale boost, and also gives them great exposure to international choreographers and talent scouts, who can help open doors for them."

De Visu are the current Street Dance New Zealand's Bay of Plenty regional champions and National Hip Hop Unite Champions.

De Visu also competed at the 2016 UDO Street Dance World Champions in Las Vegas.

Ms Martin said De Visu members also attended a training camp in Germany attended by about 2200 students and many of the top international choreographers.

They also spent time training with America's best dance crew Kinjaz in Los Angeles, who also shared tips about making it in the industry, she said.

De Visu Dance Crew also performed at the gala opening of the 2017 Anchor Aims Games.

Ms Martin said next month eight of the crew members would head to Brisbane to compete among about 40 crews at the Australasian House of Champions competition.

De Visu Street Dance Crew

A 10-member group aged 13 to 19 years which formed in February 2015

Eight from Tauranga, one each from Whakatane and Matamata

Current Street Dance New Zealand's Bay of Plenty regional champions

Current National Hip Hop Unite Champions

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