The music was loud and bodies moved to the beats inside Whanganui City College's dance studio last week.
All sorts of tracks from Rihanna's We Found Love to Give It Up by KC & The Sunshine Band blared over the speakers as students shook, twisted and turned to the rhythm.
It was a hip-hop dancing holiday programme and the dancers came out in force, either to learn how to do it or to build on the experience that they already had.
Whanganui City College deputy principal Valerie Rooderkirk said lots of parents had been asking about it.
The students danced to songs from Rihanna's We Found Love to Give It Up by KC & The Sunshine Band. Photo / Stuart Munro
"There are no dance classes for hip-hop in town, there's lots of ballet, lots of jazz and lots of modern, but the kids just love this," she said.
"The girls did all of the teaching. We ended up with nearly 50 kids through over the three days and it was lots of fun."
Those girls are the seven-strong crew that make up Aotea Empire - who are the current national secondary school champions.
Following the holiday programme that finished on Wednesday, they have carried on at the studio as they attempt to take out an all new category at a familiar competition.
City College deputy principal Valerie Rooderkirk said that parents had been asking about hip hop dance classes. Photo / Stuart Munro
Aotea Empire have joined forces with 15 students from other local schools to form a mega crew that will compete at the NZCAF competition.
"The girls have been together for two years. They just love to dance. Last year they made it to the nationals by the skin of their teeth, but then they won," Rooderkirk said.
"They work really hard and now they're ready to take on a new challenge."
The students involved are from City College, Whanganui Girls' College, Cullinane College, Rangitikei College and Whanganui High School.
A mega crew of 22 will bust their moves in an upcoming NZCAF competition. Photo / Stuart Munro
They are under the tutelage of Pauline Hiroti, who is currently earning her PHD in Dance from the University of Auckland and former City College head girl Baillie Edwards.
"It means everything to have them here. They do it for love and these girls are living this lifestyle now," said Rooderkerk.
"When we first started, we'd tell the girls to bring snacks and they'd bring chips and things like that, but that sort of stuff doesn't happen any more.
"This is a water only studio now, they're here on time, they're resilient and they're setting themselves up with some important life skills."
The dancers will also be practising for Dean McKerras' DanceNZMade competition in August.
Following the NZCAF competition will be Dean McKerras' DanceNZ Made competition. Photo / Stuart Munro
