The country’s best B-Boys and B-Girls to battle it out at QPAC this September

Battle Series – Brisbane and Flexing Skillz, an epic street dance event, will rock the mic and floor at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) on Saturday 30 September presented with renowned local dance company Elements Collective.

Battle Series – Brisbane spans across almost six hours and features local and interstate artists competing in a combination of one v one and crew breaking battles for the opportunity to earn points towards their Australian Breaking Association (ABA) national rankings.

Following the competitive Battle Series – Brisbane, Flexing Skillz will see legendary artistic director Nick Power return to Brisbane to curate a night of Hip Hop improv and freestyle. The evening will feature 16 of Brisbane’s best Hip Hop artists across platforms of dance, DJing, singing and emceeing, including a live funk band.

Breaking is a popular style of street dance based around improvisation, spontaneity, and athleticism with a significant connection to Hip Hop culture originating in the boroughs of New York. As Hip Hop culture marks its 50th year in 2023, these two events will provide an exhilarating opportunity to showcase the finest Hip Hop talent in Australia.

Breaking was successfully introduced at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires and is set to make its Olympic Games debut in Paris 2024. Judges score the battles on six criteria – creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity, and musicality.

Elements Collective, an internationally recognised dance company founded in 2010, is at the forefront of the Australian Hip Hop dance community. Having previously created acclaimed touring productions, organised community workshops, and hosted large-scale dance events, Elements Collective is actively involved in nurturing Australian b-boys and b-girls for the Paris 2024 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Elements Collective Founder and champion b-girl Leah Clark is thrilled that QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre will welcome the world’s best in breaking.

“This is an incredibly exciting and important moment for our b-boys and b-girls, as they compete for prizes and, most importantly, bragging rights in Battle Series – Brisbane. The one v one categories are also eligible for the AusBreaking National Ranking System,” she said.

“We invite audiences to sit back and watch or enter the battle and go head-to-head with both local legends and out-of-state talents. Fans will feel the energy of our unique and vibrant dance culture and witness the dynamic Hip Hop community in full form on a professional platform and stage,” she said.

Flexing Skillz Artistic Director Nick Power is a Toowoomba born and Sydney-based b-boy and choreographer whose work draws on the rituals and culture of Hip Hop to create contemporary performances. His practice spans from remote Aboriginal communities to contemporary dance festivals across the world. The recipient of the 2018 Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship and the 2012 Australia Council dance residency at the Cite International Des Arts in Paris, Nick was also the Director of Platform Hip Hop Festival held at Carriageworks from 2008 to 2012.

Having featured in Sydney’s Platform Hip Hop festival for many years, Power can’t wait to bring this event to Queensland audiences. “I’m so excited to bring Flexing Skillz to my home state and showcase the incredible talent in the local Hip Hop community. The competitive freestyle format allows the artists to truly flex their skills across dance and music, collaborating live on stage. It really is a wild ride for the audience and the artists,” he said.

“For me, it’s a powerful moment to bring the local Hip Hop community together in full force at such an iconic Queensland venue. It’s been a long time and it’s so exciting that this is happening now.

“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is reconnecting with so many Queensland artists I have worked with and admired for years as well as getting to see the next generation of hip hoppers do their thing,” he said.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said hosting Battle Series – Brisbane and Flexing Skillz was a unique opportunity for QPAC and one the venue was looking forward to with much anticipation.

“This day-long event will bring the street dance industry’s very best to Brisbane and to our audiences. As an adaptive venue that celebrates diverse programming, we can’t wait to see this innovative event come to life,” he said.

“As we approach the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, we are excited to host more of these pioneering and world-class experiences that showcase talent and excellence in a wide range of artforms.”

Battle Series – Brisbane and Flexing Skillz will head spin into QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre on Saturday 30 September 2023. Tickets are on sale now via qpac.com.au