‘We’re still buzzing’: The Collective NZ celebrate World of Dance success

Every era has a game changer and an Auckland dance crew could be just that as it makes waves on the entertainment scene.

The Collective is making moves in the industry following its successful launch on the global dance stage.

After winning first place in the Team Division at World of Dance (WOD) New Zealand 2025, earning an impressive score of 98.5/100.

The Collective placed third overall in the championship round of the World Summit 2025 held in Los Angeles last month.

The Collective is the first New Zealand dance crew to take out the Team Division and reach a top three placing all within their first year competing at WOD.

In an interview with Niu FM’s The Rush, Chantelle Huch, co-director and co-founder, along with choreographer William Rakena spoke about what this exposure has meant to them.

Huch says she is still buzzing from the success.

“I think the high hasn’t come down yet and I think being home and being able to celebrate with our family and friends that supported us has just kept the buzz going.”

In their social media posts, The Collective say this season has been “an incredible achievement”.

“None of this would be possible without the immense love and support of our entire village,” one post reads.

“To our directors, creative team and our incredible dancers - take a bow champs!

“This szn was definitely one for the books and more to come! History in the making team.”

With eight years of experience under his belt, Rakena has developed and honed his krump style saying, “it's a good expression”.

While riding the wave of success, Huch says the team’s humility is engrained in all that they do.

“It's the humility in us as Pacific Island people that if anything, we just come home super grateful and feeling ultra blessed.

“I think we are still trying to get over the fact that we did that.”

Forming The Collective

Officially established in September 2023, The Collective NZ are an independently run project-based dance crew.

They are selective with the competitions they enter and exclusively invite dancers to perform at each chosen event, meaning The Collective NZ takes a new team to every competition event.

Currently, The Collective NZ are in their fourth season of competing and the team says they're excited to continue collaborating with different dancers and together expand their creativity.

Turning passion into profession

At 24 years old, Rakena is a world champion choreographer, known for his work with Swagganauts, in theatre with Freshmans Dance Crew, and claiming back-to-back first place wins at Danchella with The Collective.

Rakena was rugby and trades focused all through his schooling days and dance was never an interest of his.

After encouragement from an aunty to “give it a shot” he says he found purpose in a creative outlet and has not looked back since.

“My dance teacher actually told me, ‘you have mad potential in this creative work’,” Rakena says.

“Then there was a time where I had to pick an academy, there was a building academy, sports academy, and dance academy.

“My dance teacher said to me, ‘you have no choice, you have to pick the dance academy’.”

Huch has been on the dance scene since 2006 with her family dance crew, Lil Saintz.

Her Aunty Bex Tupa’i founded the group made up of Huch’s siblings and cousins and performed at every family event, plus making a number of appearances at Pasifika Festivals and Polyfests.

After winning multiple national and international dance titles, their legacy has grown to “encourage, inspire, and empower” up and comers through the Saintz Dance Academy.

Huch says she holds endless gratitude for her aunty’s vision.

“All because our aunty and uncle saw something in us when we were younger and what we thought were just fun times at family birthdays has now turned into careers for us.”

Step into the World of Dance

Launched in 2008, the WOD Championship Series has evolved from a single event in Los Angeles into a globally renowned competition.

Having drawn participants from over 50 countries and has been the platform to launch some of the most prolific dance crews in the world.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s very own Royal Family, founded by the revered Pacific dance queen, Parris Goebel, are among the crews who have made an indelible name at WOD.

In 2017, the WOD launched a TV reality show with the same name, executive produced by Jennifer Lopez and judges have included Ne-Yo and Derrek Hough.

It was a competition where any dance style whether performed solo, duo, or in a group, battled it out for a grand prize of NZ$1.6 million.