One of New Zealand's largest and most respected street dance events is returning to Mount Maunganui this weekend.

PROJECT is a youth hip hop dance competition that attracts crews from around Aotearoa – in its 14th year, it will be held at Mercury Baypark Arena on June 3-4.

Event director Sarah Martin says street dance is a great vehicle to empower young people 'to believe in themselves and their future”.

'It can grow them in all areas of their lives – mentally, emotionally and physically – and helps them to be healthy and fit. Our young people learn to make good choices for life when they believe in themselves and they can see a way forward.”

PROJECT began when Sarah was teaching at Te Puke High School and asked the dance crew if they'd like to enter a national competition.

'They didn't feel they were ready for that level and so I created PROJECT as an entry-level competition for people to gain experience.

'PROJECT nurtures up-and-coming dancers through the competition process, which can be very daunting. This experience empowers dancers to go on to compete at bigger competitions with confidence from having had a positive and supportive experience.”

Sarah says the first year of PROJECT saw many young dancers take to the stage for the first time.

'Their involvement had positive flow-on effects, with improvements in their behaviour and social interactions at school and in the community.”

The event has grown steadily since – in both participant numbers and reputation. The first event in 2010 had nine crews and 70 dancers. Last year, there were 91 crews and almost 1000 dancers, as well as 2700 spectators.

'The Saturday, June 3, still caters for entry-level and novice dancers and includes free dance workshops with the judges and these are open to the public,” says Sarah.

'Sunday, June 4, is when some of NZ's best dancers compete – including world champions The Royal Family Dance Crew and Identity Dance Company.”

BBI. Photo: supplied

Dancers travel from across the nation to take part in PROJECT. There are crews from Kaikohe in the north, to Christchurch in the south. There is always a strong contingent from Auckland.

'PROJECT is different from other competitions because dance is the main thing,” says Sarah.

'It is not a qualifier, so people come to celebrate their love of dance, to support each other, and appreciate the creativity that people bring.”

The audience also brings plenty of noise, encouraged by emcee Hadz Pouesi, who has a long history in the street dance scene himself, having won a gold medal at the world champs in 2008.

This year at PROJECT, the open crews – junior, varsity, adult, mega crews – will be battling it out for more than $5000 in prize money.

Crux. Photo: supplied