Slick flips wow hip-hop audience | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

The crowd sat in awe and admiration as dancers sliced the air with slick flips and stomped across the stage of the Hawke's Bay Opera House last night.

There was plenty of talent and creativity when some of the region's finest young dancers competed in the Back to the Streets Hip Hop Dance Competition.

Event co-ordinator Ellison Huata said the competition, which was to celebrate Matariki, the Maori New Year, featured groups from Rotorua and Auckland.

"The level of competition was great but it would be good to see more of these crews come forward," Miss Huata said.

"Because there is a lot more talent out there."

The top teams on the night included Hastings Intermediate, who took out third place, another local group, Swa-vay, who came second and Fearless, from Rotorua, who took the top spot.

Guest judges included Auckland dancer Justin Haiu, Billie Paea, director of Dziah 2.0 from Auckland, and Narelle Huata, who's involved with the Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre and the Takitimu Performing Arts School.

Guest performers on the night included Dziah 2.0, who are set to compete in the World Hip Hop Championships in July.

About 200 pupils from Napier, Hastings and Havelock North also attended the Maori Games Competition held at the Hawke's Bay Opera House earlier in the day to celebrate Matariki.

Miss Huata said students from primary and secondary schools turned out to have a go at poi, ti rakau, mahi aringa (hand games) and tititorea (stick game).