Event Details
Battle in the Bay is Hawke’s Bay’s only national Hip Hop dance competition. Founded in 2015, it began with a simple vision: to give dancers from smaller towns and regions the chance to experience a high-quality, supportive Hip Hop competition. What started as a local dream has grown into a kaupapa that now brings together hundreds of dancers from across Aotearoa every year.
This year marks our 10th anniversary—a decade of connection, growth, and community. For ten years, Battle in the Bay has been more than just a competition. It has been a place where dancers challenge themselves, share their passion, and form lasting friendships that strengthen our national Hip Hop and Street Dance whānau.
Our aim has always been to empower dancers and communities. We do this by creating a weekend filled with competition, workshops, and connection—where every dancer leaves not only with memories, but also with new skills, knowledge, and inspiration to dream bigger and go further.
The event runs across four sessions over the weekend. All dancers compete in a preliminary round, with the top entries qualifying for the finals and the chance to claim the title of Champion.
Session 1: Prelims 1 – Friday 28 Nov, 6:00pm - 10:30pm
Doors Open: 5:30pm
• Solo: Cubz / Kidz / Juniorz
• Duo: Cubz / Kidz
• Trio: Juniorz
• Small Crew: Cubz / Kidz / Juniorz
• Crew: Cubz / Kidz / Juniorz
• Schools: Primary / Intermediate / High School
• Megacrew: Juniorz
• Announcement of finalists & Schools Prizegiving: 10:00pm
Session 2: Prelims 2 – Saturday 29 Nov, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Doors Open: 8:30am
• Solo: Young Gunz / Varsity / Open
• Small Crew: Varsity / Open
• Duo: Juniorz / Varsity / Open
• Trio: Varsity / Open
• Megacrew: Open
• Intermission
• Announcement of finalists from the first half of Session 2: 12:15pm
• Crew: Young Gunz / Varsity / Open
• Megacrew: Varsity
• Announcement of finalists from the second half of Session 2: 2:00pm
Session 3: Finals 1 – Saturday 29 Nov, 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Doors Open: 2:30pm
Prize Giving: 5:30pm
• Solo: Cubz / Kidz / Juniorz
• Duo: Cubz / Kidz / Juniorz
• Trio: Juniorz
• Small Crew: Cubz / Kidz / Juniorz
• Crew: Cubz / Kidz / Juniorz
• Megacrew: Juniorz
• Prizegiving
Session 4: Finals 2 – Saturday 29 Nov, 7:00pm - 10:30pm
Doors Open: 6:30pm
Prize Giving: 10:00pm
• Solo: Young Gunz / Varsity / Open
• Duo: Varsity / Open
• Trio: Varsity / Open
• Small Crew: Varsity / Open
• Crew: Young Gunz / Varsity / Open
• Megacrew: Varsity / Open
• Prizegiving
