Dancing Eagles
Rarotonga is being treated to a sneak preview of world-class hip hop dancing.

The Eagle sisters, Malaena, 19, and Colette, 16, came to the island for the funeral of their grandfather, Peter Broadbent, during which they performed a short dance routine in his honour. The performance was based on hip hop choreography the two learned as members of the Auckland-based Palace Dance Studio.
The siblings will dance in front of a much larger audience in July when their respective “crews” take the stage at the Hip Hop World Championships in Las Vegas. Malaena dances with the No. 1-ranked adult team while Colette is one of the eight members of the varsity team. Three crews from each division will represent New Zealand at the Worlds.
The public will have an opportunity to enjoy two of the best hip hop dancers in New Zealand when the Eagle sisters perform their routine Monday evening, May 10, at the RSA.
The daughters of a martial arts instructor, training in Shaolin kung fu was pretty much mandatory when Malaena and Colette were growing up. The end result, however, is that both now possess black belts. They said the discipline, balance and confidence they learned through martial arts also helped them become better dancers.
They first started dancing in their early teens, as another outlet for their creative energy. Malaena now dances part-time while Colette is in Year 12 at an Auckland college.
Even though the sisters compete in different age groups at the Palace Dance Studio, they have blended their routines for their Rarotonga performances. The result is a veritable whirlwind of flailing limbs and flying hair, set to a boisterous beat, as the girls work the stage with the kind of energy that brings New Zealand audiences to their feet, screaming in appreciation.
“It was a little bit quieter at the funeral,” admitted Malaena. “We weren’t sure if the aunties would like it or end up throwing their shoes at us.”
They are both excited about the upcoming World Championships, during which they will go up against some of the most polished crews on the planet.
“I just hope I don’t faint on the stage,” said Malaena.

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