…Hip-hop dancer offers free classes
SOLOMON Islands hip-hop sensation Duncan Maetoloa returned home from the Hip Hop International (HHI) Dance Champions in Las Vegas to offer free dance classes for interested kids early this week.
The Brisbane-based dancer was in Honiara last week to offer three free dancing classes to more than 30 children.
He flew straight back from Las Vegas where he was participating with his Hood Nation dance crew in finals of the HHI Dance Champions in the United States.
His crew came second in the Australian Hip Hop qualifiers and made it to the world stage where the top three winners of each nation were participating.
On his return via Brisbane, Duncan flew back to Honiara to conduct two dancing sessions at the Multi-purpose Hall and one at the Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL) headquarters in Mbalasuna.
The kids and young boys who took part expressed their happiness and excitement on being trained by an International Hip hop dancer.
They said it was an ‘experience of a life-time, so great and too good’.
Some expressed their eagerness to continue the classes if Duncan returns again end of the year.
Duncan, on the other hand, always ensured that the kids were appreciated as noticed by going around the room every now and then and high-fiving them, patting their shoulders and backs and even lifting the youngest dancer during dance intervals.
He really interacted with the kids in a positive way.
Duncan shared inspirational talks with the youths after training and this was one of the most inspirational talks he shared with the kids.
“I’m just a home boy born and raised here. I was the only island boy in Las Vegas representing Solomon Islands and Melanesia and I was very proud to fly our flag in the World Hip Hop dance competition.
“Having reached the semi-finals with my Australian crew was a huge success both for Australia, Solomon Islands and me and my family.
“The answer to my success is that I believed in myself and worked hard at my dancing skills.
“Dancers are artists, just like any other sports or art; we have to work hard at our art to be the best dancers we can.
“We need to have a passion for dancing, we have to focus on dancing, dance everywhere you go, in the shower, at the table, when you walking on the road, everywhere.
“We cannot just sleep and expect to get anywhere. I danced since I was young and continued when I was growing up. Even though I had other interests, dancing was always my passion and love.
“Our friends and families might say we are wasting our time but I tell you never give up, keep pushing because I did and ended up being one of the best dancers even in my own crew.
“We have a lot of talent in the Solomon Islands and now that our crews are starting to go out especially to the Sydney World Supremacy this year, I expect our level to start climbing up to another level.
“Next year and the following year we should be doing great and I promise you as your international hip hop dancer I will ensure I take a group of dancers from Solomon Islands, board the plane and fly all the way to Las Vegas for the World Hip hop dancing competition, believe it. We can do it!”
The Las Vegas Championship is organised by Hip Hop International (HHI), the group responsible for MTV’s highly successful America’s Best Dance Crew. Recognising the growing popularity of hip hop music and dance and the significance of its culture on millennial and young adults Hip Hop International began with 12 nations in 2002 and has grown steadily to its current 50 countries from the far reaches of the globe. In the process, Hip Hop International has emerged as the world’s largest and most respected street dance organisation.
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