Hip-hop dance crews from Japan and New Zealand repeat as world champions

Hip Hop International’s (HHI) week-long competition that crowns U.S. and world dance champions in multiple categories concluded Saturday night as two defending champions repeated with gold medal-winning performances.

Varsity division champs Kana-Boon!, hailing from Japan, fended off challenges from silver medalists J.B. Star Varsity of Japan and bronze medalists the Alliance from the Philippines. The Bradas of New Zealand came into the adult division having won a tough battle last year. They repeated as gold medalists, with two U.S. crews -- Prophecy and Outlawz – taking the silver and bronze honors.

New winners came in the form of T.eenagers, hailing from Canada, in the junior division, and UPeepz (the Philippines) in the always exciting mega-crew category. Runners-up included junior crews Scream from Russia and Bubblegum from New Zealand taking the silver and bronze spots, and last year’s mega-crew champ from South Korea, Lock’n’Lol, taking the silver, while perennial medal winner Royal Family (New Zealand) took the bronze.

Royal Family founder Parris Goebel also had a solo spotlight late Friday as she unveiled her foray into the music industry, performing her first single, “Friday.”

U.S. champion gold medals were awarded early last week to Chapkis Dance Family (Suisun City, Calif.) in the mega-crew division, Outlawz (Gilbert, Ariz.) in the adults division, Chapkidz (Suisun City) in the varsity division and Prodigy (Las Vegas) in the junior division.

It was the 15th competition for the HHI organization, which supports hip-hop dancing through worldwide initiatives and regional championship competitions. Participation has grown to 50 countries, and more than 10,000 watched the championship competition from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

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Choreographer Parris Goebel debuts her ‘Friday’ single to a familiar crowd at Hip Hop International