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OUR STORY
Built on dance.
Rooted in whānau
Zion Dance Studios has been part of the Papanui community for over 20 years - a place where young people find their feet, find their people, and find out what they're capable of.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
From a crew to a community
2003
THE BEGINNING
Two young dancers at Northcity Church - Jesse Boyce and Alicia Barrell - formed a hip hop crew called Zion. Their dream was to share their passion for dance, build lasting relationships, and prove that a faith-based crew could be world class. Within a short time, Zion became the name in Christchurch hip hop.
Born
THE STUDIO
Research by crew members showed that boredom and lack of belonging were widespread among Papanui youth. With Zion crew as proof that hip hop could change lives, Northcity Church built two custom dance studios in their new building - and Zion Dance Studios was born.
Today we're still expanding and evolving - holding to the same belief that dance builds confident, resilient young people with a strong sense of identity, for themselves and their communities.
Dance is the mechanism.
Whānau is the goal.
This is what drives everything we do at Zion.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Our Values
A positive whānau where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Grow people and dance together
Value others
Respect, honour, and integrity in everything we do.
Pursue excellence
High standards in the studio - professionally, competitively, and personally.
Be true to who we are
Long-term relationships built on trust, faith, and community.
Our commitments
Respectful language, personal responsibility, open communication, and care for our space and each other.
Zion is proudly connected to Northcity Church and our faith shapes our values - but you don't need to share our beliefs to belong here. We're for everyone.
