Story: Samoans

Dancing at the Top

Head and shoulders view of Parris Goebel wearing gold hoop earrings, blue denim shirt and hat.

Samoan and other Pacific young people have led the way in the hip hop dance world in New Zealand, and the influence of their dance crews has been felt around the world. One of the most successful dance studios, The Palace Dance Studio, has produced dance crews which have excelled on the international stage, such as ReQuest and The Royal Family, and have won the World Hip Hop Dance Championships numerous times.

One of the founders of The Palace, Parris Goebel, has used her particular style of dance, known as Polyswagg, to become an internationally renowned choreographer and dancer. She has worked with numerous superstars of music and dance, including Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez. In 2020, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to dance. In 2022 she earned her third Emmy nomination, for her choreography for the Barbadian superstar Rihanna’s show at New York Fashion Week. 

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How to cite this page:

Lupematasila Melani Anae, 'Samoans - Contributions to New Zealand', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/47754/dancing-at-the-top (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Lupematasila Melani Anae, published 8 Feb 2005, reviewed & revised 7 Sep 2022 with assistance from  Lupematasila Melani Anae