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During lockdown, dancer Brandon Lewis, 16, won international competitions against dancers from South Africa, Australia, Asia and New Zealand – all from his back lawn.
Brandon learned three new competition routines at the start of the year, but only had a chance to compete twice before Covid-19 put a halt to his regular dance schedule. He usually dances at Dance Dimensions in Silverdale, but during lockdown switched to practicing routines for five hours a day in his garage, in addition to completing school work and dance lessons on Zoom.
“I decided there was no point in wasting an opportunity to get fitter and stronger,” he says.
He filmed various choreography solos on the lawn at his Sandspit home and submitted them to competitions via YouTube. His biggest win was in the Asia Pacific Dance Association global challenge, where Brandon placed first in hip hop, first in student choreography, third in contemporary dance and received a judge’s encouragement cash grant.
He also competed in the Level Up Dance Competition, Expressions Dance Competition, the Impact Dance Competition and the Victorious Dance Competition during lockdown, taking titles in each of them.
“Getting these wins in overseas competitions reminds me what I’m doing it for. I dance for fun, but this reminds me I can do it for a career,” Brandon says.
He was also awarded the star power judges award in the Level Up Dance Competition. It was a proud moment for Brandon as it was judged by dance industry leader Andrew Cesan, the founder of the world champion hip hop crew Identity, from which Brandon draws inspiration for some of his own routines.
Once he’s finished school, Brandon wants to study dance at university and continue making a name for himself by entering competitions around the world.
He has set his sights on the World of Dance televised competition, as well as the Hip Hop International street dance competition.
This year Brandon has also been given the opportunity to attend the globally renowned Palace Dance Studio in Auckland for a Level 2 NCEA dance course. The Palace is home to legendary Kiwi hip hop star Paris Goebel, and Brandon will get to learn choreography, music mixing, costume design and event planning.
