Tunnel vision is one way to describe the crew at Space Studios in Tauranga as they prepared for the World Dance Crew Championships.
A team of 33 dancers from around New Zealand, half of them from Tauranga, will compete on the Space Pro Team against teams from Japan, Australia, Germany, USA and the Philippines for the international title in Auckland on April 13-19.
Space Studios is not taking this challenge lightly.
SunLive spoke to studio co-owner, dance teacher and choreographer Cameron Smith two weeks ago, as the team of 11-17-year-olds was preparing for their final training push.
He said they would be completing 50 hours of practice on weekends and after school.
“We’re going to set up tents in the studio … the kids will pretty much live [there].”
Smith said the Space Pro Team have been well-known as fierce competitors around the world following their wins at the World of Dance competition and Hip-Hop Dance Championship in 2024.
“Now we get to take on the World Dance Crew Championships which is a huge privilege.”
Despite having three top competitive teams at the studio, Smith said they have decided to take only one crew to the top.
“We’re going to take one team and we’re going to give it everything we have.”
In the months since Smith’s last talk with SunLive in September, the team has been busy with more international opportunities.
“We were selected to audition for America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent.
“With America’s Got Talent, we got all the way through to interviews with the show’s executive producers.”
Smith said being approached for America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent was an awesome opportunity for a little dance studio in Tauranga.
Space Pro Team member and Mount Maunganui College head girl Sienna Lagerberg said the team is like one big family.
“After school every day we’ll have training. It’s so much fun because you’re with your best friends.”
Sienna thrives among the pressures of being in her last year of high school, being a head girl and being a member of an internationally recognised dance crew.
She said it was all about applying the skills she has learnt at Space Studios: commitment, dedication, hard work, resilience and time management.
She looks forward to the competition to see different countries’ twists on hip-hop.
“It is so beautiful to see like their cultural twist on hip-hop and the different interpretations are so amazing to watch.”
She said most international competitions were held overseas, so “it’s pretty cool that we have a competition that’s a world international level in Auckland.
“I know there’s a lot of New Zealand teams coming, so it would be amazing for all those teams from around the world to come and experience the New Zealand culture.”
During the week of the competition, the dancers will travel between Auckland and Tauranga. “They’re either going to be driving or dancing,” said Smith.
The team will be competing in the Super Crew category of the competition which includes teams of 10-40 dancers.
They will be performing a new routine – choreographed by Smith – different from their usual style.
“It’s a little bit of a lane switch. In the past, we’ve done stuff that’s been a little bit more grounded, a little bit more intense. This year, we’ve gone full-blown fun.
“It is bright, it is colourful, it is out the gate, it is super fun.”
Smith said the performance will include songs that the audience will all know and can clap along to.
“No one has seen this routine yet,” he said. “This [routine] will debut at the WDCC.”
World Dance Crew Championships event director Bayon Kim said WDCC is a great opportunity for New Zealand crews to welcome dancers from across the globe.
“We’re thrilled to have Cameron and Space Studios as part of that mix.”
“Space, like Auckland-based studios IDCO and The Royal Family, is known worldwide for the calibre of its dancers.
“Studios like Space have helped build New Zealand’s global reputation for dance and performance - one of the reasons international teams are so excited to compete here.”
The New Zealand dance community is internationally recognised
“We’re excited for local audiences to experience why.”
Space Studios will first need to make it through preliminaries and semifinals before the grand final on Saturday, April 19.
Smith and the rest of Space Studios encouraged the Tauranga community to go and watch to support local dancers at Due Drop Events Centre in Auckland.
To keep updated on Space Studio’s journey visit their Instagram page.