Waiata Maori Awards – Judge Justin Haiu

Press Release, August 6, 2010.

Waiata Maori Awards – Judge, Auckland dancer/performer Justin Haiu

Auckland-based dancer and performer Justin Haiu will again being offering a few words of wisdom to those performing at the Hip-Hop Dance Competition in Hawke’s Bay, which is being held as part of the National Waiata Maori Awards in September.

The Hip-Hop Dance Competition organisers have announced Haiu, 29, will judge the competition with Auckland’s Dziah Dance Company director Billie Paea on Sunday, September 12.

“I’ve only been to Hawke’s Bay a few times but it’s great seeing the dance crews come out of there, there’s a lot of talent.

“Generally I’m looking for how tight the group is, how groovy they are, how original they are, their formations, whether they use levels up in the air or down on the ground,” he said.

Haiu knows there will be there will be many young performers coming up to him during the competition asking for advice.

“I’ll tell them it’s a hard career to get into … but just to really pursue it if they think it is something they want. There are different avenues you can go down, you could go overseas to dance, you could dance on cruise ships, cultural dancing, there’s a lot of options, give it a whirl if they are passionate about it,” he said.

Haiu is from Whangarei but moved to Auckland in 2005 and for the past two or three years has been working as a full time dance and choreographer. He studied at the Brent Street School of Performing Arts in Sydney and is now with talent company, The Human Agency.

Many people may remember him from the television reality show, So You Think You Can Dance, where he was runner up of that competition. Since then he’s moved on to appear in other shows, such as a dancer in Maori Television’s Pukana; a dancer of TV2’s Show Stoppers and a performer on TV1’s Stars in Their Eyes.

Most recently he secured a role in the Kiwi movie, Boy.

“I was sent along (by his agent) and I didn’t realise how big scale it was. I was able to get a small role, I’m in the Beat It battle tucked away in the corner. My friends say they’ve seen me but they really only saw my name in the credits,” Haiu said.

The well-known performer is currently working on the show, My Penina, at the Herald Theatre at the Aotea Centre, Auckland.

“I am doing some choreographic work there and soon I am hoping to be part of a full-time performance group which might be coming about shortly,” he said.
Haiu is looking forward to his appearance at the Hip-Hop Dance Competition in Hawke’s Bay.

“It’s a great opportunity for young performers to show their talent. Sometimes people will be asked to get up and sing, or dance … I may get up as well but I think I’ll leave the showcasing to the performers there,” he said.

Waiata Maori Awards 2010:

• The awards will include the Maori Music Expo, September 9 and 10, where modern and traditional musicians and composers will offer their advice and experience in a series of workshops and forums.

• A fashion show will be held on the evening of September 9, mixing live music with work from prominent Hawke’s Bay designers.

• The awards ceremony will be held on the evening of September 10, broadcast by Radio Kahungunu through the iwi station network and by Maori Television.

• A hip-hop dance competition will be held on September 12, starting at 4pm. Judges will include Justin Haiu and Billie Paea. The dance competition awards will be held at the conclusion of the event.
ends

© Scoop Media