World Class Dance Crew On Heartland Tour

World Class Dance Crew On Heartland Tour – On Maori Television!

They’re city boys, and razor sharp on the dance floor – but how will they go finding their feet in the rural heartland of Aotearoa?

That’s the question for world class hip hop dance crew Prestige as they leave behind their urban comfort zone, jump on board their black bus and take off on the ultimate tiki tour of New Zealand.

PHUNK NATION is the 13-part series that captures that journey, from Kaitaia to Bluff, screening on Maori Television from Friday June 4 at 8.00 PM.

“None of these guys have milked a cow before, let alone hunt a wild pig, so this is definitely a walk on the wild side for them,” says producer Ondrej Havas, of Omnicron Productions. “Then there are the locals in the communities they visit, who are challenged to learn something themselves – the most up-to-date moves from one of the best dance crews in the country.

“It’s small-town New Zealand at its best – Whakatane counts as a big town in this show.”

The dance crew is all male, largely from South Auckland and made up of a broad ethnic mix that includes Maori, Pacific Island, European, Filipino and Cambodian heritage.

The dancers were medallists on the greatest world stage there is - the World Hip Hop Championships – prior to filming this series.

But they were at their lowest ebb when their last trip to the contest saw them failing to place.

“There were thoughts of breaking up,” says Havas. “But when this came along, I guess they thought, let’s give it one last shot. And that’s really the point of the show – can they rise above their shattered dreams?”

It’s family viewing, with heavy doses of adventure and entertainment, as they travel to such locations as Opotiki, Motueka, Ruatoria and Hokitika.

Their adventures include going upside down in a Tiger Moth in Wairarapa, and hitting the rodeo in Wanaka. A dance jam will become a full scale battle in Rodney.

It’s great fun – but not to the detriment of keeping it real.

“There is depth to the show. The boys are pretty upfront about their personal stories. The campfire chats, also, highlight some real issues facing young people. But it’s not dry or preachy. There’s a great vein of humour running through.”

Follow the fun-loving crew as they explore the unique character of the small town Aotearoa in PHUNK NATION, screening on Maori Television from Friday June 4 at 8.00 PM.

ENDS

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