Two Logan-based hip hop crews will head to the USA this month to represent Australia at the Hip-Hop International World Championships.
The two crews, Bloodline (ages 13+) and Hard Knockz (ages 8–12) are from the Bloodline Dance Company in Underwood and will compete for the world title with 4000 other dancers from around the globe.
Bloodline’s owners, Hillary and Juanita Stowers said it’s the company’s first time ever going to Worlds.
“We have been in this business now for four years going on five, it took all this time and hard work to be able to go and represent the country,” Mr Stowers said.
“I have been there before myself to compete in the past in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, but this is Bloodline’s first time going to Worlds.”
“We are super excited and keen, especially it being the kids’ first time. I want them to experience what I experienced when I was their age.”
Mr Stowers said getting ready for the competition hasn’t come without challenges.
“It comes with challenges having to work with kids so young, but it’s a really good age to get them motivated and take them over to a comp like this,” he said.
“We had about 3 months to prepare after the qualifier, but we also had a baby in that time, so we had a few weeks off. The plan was to get back and do our qualifier routine, but I decided to change the routine. It was a lot more work, but I really enjoyed freshening up the routine.”
Mrs Stowers said, “We have made sacrifices, put in a lot of hours, fundraised a lot of money and really tried to switch the kids minds over to what they are capable of.”
Bloodline Dance Academy supports Logan Schools through dance-based workshops, which have changed the lives of many students including 18-year-old Keisha Davao – who will be competing.
Miss Davao joined the dance company when they first opened in 2018.
“I have achieved some crazy goals since I have started here, including travelling around and progressing with my dance,” she said.
“I’m now teaching full-time here at Bloodline and I just want to be able to take all the opportunities I can with dance. With bloodlines you just learn so much and want to push harder, it’s the energy, it’s very supportive, I fell in love with it and want to keep it going.”
Miss Davao said she one day wants to tour around Australia and the World performing.
The Hip-Hop International World Championships will be held in Arizona from August 6-13.
