A 16-member group from MATA dance took part in the World Hip Hop Dance Championship for the first time earlier this month in Phoenix, Arizona, US.
Group choreographer Tevita Tobeyaweni said the whole experience was exhilarating for the dancers.
“We can’t explain how it felt to know that so many people have performed on that stage; we felt honoured to even make it this far to step foot on that stage,” he said.
He said despite the countless challenges they continued to pursue their love for dance and kept their heads high.
“It was not an easy journey but it has been definitely rewarding, we kept our heads high, our dreams alive and we were all determined to make it across.”
Mr Tobeyaweni said a lesson they had learnt from this experience was to never take anything for granted.
“When an opportunity presents itself take it, for us we definitely know what to expect, to be better prepared in all aspects and be fully immersed in the process now that we have gone through the experience.”
He adds MATA was determined in pushing the hip hop dance in Fiji.
“The team is fired up and excited to be reigniting this genre of dance in the country, we would like to thank all our supporters and those who have helped us come all this way.”
