A VISITING dance company has their fingers crossed Mildura will reopen on Saturday so it can push ahead with its quest to find Sunraysia’s best hip-hop talent.
Shaun Parker and Company dancers will judge a dance competition, which is scheduled for the Mildura CBD at 11.30am on Saturday, with prizes of $1000, $500 and $250 up for grabs.
The Victorian Government is yet to announce whether Mildura will be released from lockdown as scheduled at Friday 11.59pm.
“It is very clear to me that all the young Mildura people have really connected to hip-hop dance as a very valid style, it’s been marvellous to watch the incredible talent,” said Parker, who grew up in Mildura and returned to town with his group of five dancers for daily performances and workshops.
“I hope this (the cash prizes) will help the local dance crews do more classes and invest in their work in the future.
“I have been sent in a lot of videos and I have been really impressed by the passion and great technique, particularly by the field of hip-hop.
“When I was growing up in Mildura in the ’80s, we had a little bit of hip-hop but not really, it was more really a tiny bit of breakdance, as we didn’t have access to the internet back then we didn’t have access to what other styles were out there.”
While locked down in Mildura, Parker said his dancers have been making the most of their free time by practicing and improving their specialised skills.
If Mildura opens back up on Friday, Shaun Parker and Company is expected to perform in the Mildura CBD on Saturday at noon and 3pm, with the local competition at 11.30am.
