She and fellow Rasa dance teacher Yama Dempster-Passang have been immersed in the world of dance since they were children.
Danielle Veenviet began learning dance at Rasa when she was 11, and now teaches hip-hop to teenage-level competitive groups and teenage duos, as well as an advanced adult class.
Dancers taking part in competitions have to consider not only choreography but also performance and fitness.
A big event in the competition year was Hip Hop Unite National Dance Championships, taking place each year in Wellington.
When travelling out of Dunedin for competitions, Miss Veenviet became like a ‘‘den mother’’ for the young dancers — ‘‘Like another mother’’.
‘‘For me, without dance, I feellike I wouldn’t be as confident asI am,’’ she said.
She was a ‘‘painfully shy kid’’.
But through dance she had gained confidence and had just completed a master of teaching at University of Otago to be a high-school dance, drama and music teacher.
‘‘I definitely wouldn’t have taken the path I am on now if it wasn’t for dance.’’
New Zealand hip-hop was highly regarded at international competitions.
It had a unique style that brought together many local elements including Maori and Pasifika cultures.
‘‘So bringing those elements together, I think makes it really strong.’’
‘‘I think it is definitely a sport,’’ she said.
Yama Dempster-Passang began learning dance at 10.
She used to have a full teaching schedule but since graduating as an early childhood teacher she had stepped down to teach just one hip-hop team crew on a Wednesday.
For the competitive classes last year she taught both of the young children’s teams as well as three duo teams.
She is also the leader of the adult performance group called Rasa Dance Company.
‘‘We do a lot of generally non-profit performances because we want to do our bit with the community.’’
Dance was a way to express herself as well as keeping healthy mentally and physically.
‘‘Because I just feel like dance is really good for the soul.’’
Rasa principal Lisa Wilkinson said the pair went above and beyond their jobs to help hip-hop crews go to competitions throughout the year.
‘‘They are the teachers most of our students look up to.’’
