The World’s Oldest Hip Hop Crew Given Top Honour
Media Release
7th April 2013
The World’s Oldest Hip Hop Crew Given Top Honour
The World’s Oldest Hip Hop Dance Group: The Hip Op-eration Crew is honoured to be selected as special guest performers at the New Zealand National Hip Hop Championship Finals; sharing the stage with world hip hop dance champions The Royal Family.
The hip hop mega crew consists of 37 senior citizens aged 66 to 96 years old from Waiheke Island.
“It is a huge honour to be invited as special guest performers at the New Zealand National Hip Hop Championship Finals on 27th April. We will be sharing the stage with famous hip hop artists like Krump Aoteroa, DJ Sir-Vere and the world hip hop champions (two years running), The Royal Family,” says 79 year old Hip Op-eration Crew member, Brenda Long.
The night before their special guest performance, The Hip Op-eration Crew will be making world history when they enter the Mega Crew Division of the National Hip Hop Championships on 26th April.
“We will be competing head to head with the best mega crews in the country. It will be the first time in world history where a Crew in this age group has ever officially entered a hip hop competition. We don’t expect to win, but will certainly do our best to show our respect for the culture of hip hop. It’s going to be the most exciting night of our lives. We are already jittering with excitement,” says Long.
The Hip Op-eration Crew recently performed at the Bruce Mason Centre – receiving a standing ovation to a screaming crowd of avid hip hop fans.
“Even the judges were on their feet cheering and stomping their feet in reaction to our debut ‘sneak peek’ performance. It was a very emotional and overwhelming experience for both us and for members of the audience. We had no idea that we would receive such a positive and warm response from everyone. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the whole Bruce Mason Centre that night,” says Long.
Their ‘sneak peek’ performance can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The Hip Op-eration Crew members include Violet, a 96 year old in a wheelchair; four people who use other types of mobility aids (including a zimmer frame and walking sticks), 14 members in their 80s and early 90s, many people who are deaf, and one member who is legally blind. The average age is 76 years old and there are eight men and 29 women in the Crew – including a mother (96 years old) and her son and daughter in law (both 69 years old).
The Hip Op-eration Crew, which aims to show respect to young people and to inspire them to overcome limitations, used to be called The World’s Oldest Flash Mob and did surprise performances around Auckland in 2012. However, in January 2013 they set themselves up as an official Hip Hop dance group called ‘The Hip Op-eration Crew’. The Patron, known as the ‘Official Groupie’, of The Hip Op-eration Crew is Dame Catherine Tizard, affectionately called ‘Dame T’ by the Crew.
Following their performance at the New Zealand National Hip Hop Championship Finals, the Crew then hopes to travel to Las Vegas to do a tribute performance at the World Hip Hop Championships in August 2013.
“To raise the NZ$275,000 money we need to get to the USA we are offering ourselves as talent for any company who would like to use us for their advertising campaigns. We are becoming more popular by the hour as we go viral on the Internet – so think we’d be a great group to brand and sponsor. Basically, we would consider doing just about anything in return for our travel costs to the USA.
“The World Hip Hop Championships in Las Vegas is an opportunity to take our message to the rest of the world that young people should be respected and, at the same time, enable us to pay homage to young hip hop artists all over the world,” says Long.
The buyer of The Hip Op-eration Crew will get exclusive sponsorship of the Crew, the opportunity to give them a hip hop make-over and brand them, use them for talent in advertising campaigns, have them perform at public or private functions and become part of the support Crew by joining them on the trip to Las Vegas.
“We are open to any type of buyer or sponsor – including an individual or organisation from overseas that could benefit from having an association with a positive and inspirational international publicity platform. Anyone who comes up with the money to buy or sponsor The Hip Op-eration Crew will also make the dreams of 37 people, who don’t have a second chance at this, come true,” says Billie Jordan, Manager of The Hip Op-eration Crew.
Donations to help The Hip Op-eration Crew fulfill their dream to perform in Las Vegas can be deposited into their bank account: 12 3114 0155178 50. Donees are asked to use the reference ‘Gift’ when depositing the money.
“All gifts of money will solely be used for the expenses related to the trip to Las Vegas and will be gratefully received,” says Jordan.
A feature documentary film about The Hip Op-eration Crew is currently in development to follow the adventures of the Crew from Waiheke Island to Las Vegas. It is expected to have a cinematic release date of early 2014.
A comprehensive document outlining information about buying or sponsoring The Hip Op-eration Crew can be sourced from their website at: www.hipop-eration.com
The Hip Op-eration Crew can also be viewed on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/thehipop-
To watch The Hip Op-eration Crew perform at the New Zealand National Hip Hop Championship Finals on 27th April, please purchase tickets from iticket at:-
http://www.iticket.co.nz/
For more information, high resolution digital photographs, and/or television filming opportunities please contact:-
Billie Jordan: Manager of The Hip Op-eration Crew
Mobile: 027 645 5555
Work and Home Phone: 09 372 9090
Email: [email protected]
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