Kirsten Dodgen is the ‘it girl’ of dance. Formerly part of Parris Goebel’s world famous crew, she has danced with J.Lo, Rihanna, Justin Bieber. She joined Kiwibank’s This is Kiwi podcast to talk about chasing her dreams and stepping out on her own.

At age 12, Kirsten Dodgen won gold at the Hip Hop World Championship in Vegas. What does a pre-teen even do to celebrate a win like that in Las Vegas? “Sit by the pool and have a barbecue.”

Now 26, Kirsten is a hugely successful dance battler, choreographer and world traveller. She recently took a crew to South Korea to compete in Street Woman Fighter 2, a dance battle reality TV show. She’s got over three million followers across Instagram and TikTok.

Dance is in the Dodgen DNA. When the family moved from South Africa, where they’re originally from, to Auckland, Kirsten’s mum started taking hip hop classes in Botany. Before long she’d convinced the instructor to open up a kids’ course for Kirsten. Kirsten’s grandmother, her “ma”, is 94 and still busting a move. “She’s still shaking. She gives me hope.”

Kirsten doesn’t give many long form interviews. But she joined Jane Yee on This is Kiwi, a Kiwibank series in collaboration with The Spinoff Podcast Network. Read an excerpt from the full interview below. 

Jane: What’s a pinch me moment from your career?

Kirsten: I think every opportunity has been absolutely a pinch me moment. J.Lo was a huge one for me. There’s one song of hers that I constantly played when I was younger, and at the Super Bowl, we were rehearsing, and she played the song, and it just took me back to my younger self watching her on TV. And I thought, this is so crazy. It was just such a reflection of, like, anything’s possible. How did I get here? I’m so grateful to be standing here and be able to just make my little self proud.

What style of dance do you do?

I don’t know. I never know. I don’t know what to call my style of movement. I want to say choreography. But again, so many styles have impacted my life and my journey, and also my background. You know, from South Africa, coming to New Zealand, learning the dance style here. I feel like it’s an expression, what I want to showcase in a song, or a feeling I want to showcase. And yeah, I really couldn’t put it into words. It’s just everything. It’s just me. 

Did your parents encourage you?

They were always all in. But I did have a teacher who told me I would never make dance a career. And that if I was going to miss so much school I should just leave. It just makes me so sad, you know. Like, imagine being the reason someone stopped. Imagine if I allowed that. So sad. You don’t want to be knocking someone, especially so young. Dreams are there for a reason.

How important is your South African heritage to you?

That culture is pure happiness. Dance brings so much joy. Music is always playing there. There’s the aunties, the uncles. Everyone is dancing. You know, you’re having a braai with your family, and music is always playing. And so growing up, I always had the music, and I’d always be picked up and dancing. I’m dancing with my cousins, or I’m dancing with my uncle, my auntie. I’m really grateful that that South African blood is still going through me, and I’ve been touched also with its power.

Ever had a disaster in a dance battle?

Oh, yeah. I was in a mega crew. There were about 30 of us on stage, and I’m doing a transition, and then I’m coming off stage, one of my girls accidentally tapped my foot. And it took me down, and I fully fell flat on my bum on stage, and I’m freaking out. And I thought it was the biggest, biggest thing. But when I look back, it’s a tiny little fall.

What was it like going from crew life to performing on your own? 

I was someone that couldn’t go anywhere by myself, and I always had to have someone with me. I was just afraid to always be left alone. Going solo helped me grow and see the world. And helped me realise that it’s just me, you know, and it’s fine and I’m safe and I can trust myself. I learned so much. I’ve absolutely loved seeing the world. And I got to figure out who I am and what I want to give. Performing by myself, I saw the power, and I saw what others come to learn from me, become inspired by me. I think that’s when I was like, Okay, I must be doing something right. So, yeah, it was a learning journey. And I’m so grateful that now I can travel by myself.

What kind of audience makes you most nervous?

I think it’s family. And people that I respect. Other dancers or people that I feel inspired by. I get a bit nervous because I’m like, oh, I need to pull up now. I need to show my best. 

You rely on your body to perform – how do you rest and relax?

I have a problem. I can’t. I don’t know how. I am focusing on winding down. Everything has been so fast paced. So when I’m not doing something and I have free time, I’m like, I’m not doing enough. I’m trying to break that because it’s so important to have rest, and I’ve had to learn that. There’s been times where I’ve been overseas and I have to complete a tour, and I’ve made it not even halfway because of injury. When I come home, this is really my rest period. Family is my resting point. I give so much. So in my relaxing time I like to just put on a movie, lay in bed and eat food. But I can’t get too cosy. I have to keep active and make sure my body’s still intact. But I think it’s a good balance. It has to happen, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to get those moves out when I’m overseas. 

First time you made money from dance?

It was a competition, like a talent quest. It wasn’t actually money. It was vouchers. But in my mind, that’s money. It’s a currency of sorts. I think it was like a competition held in Westfields, and my mum signed me up, and I got on that stage, and I put together, I think it was one minute solo, and I ended up taking out first prize. And I think I was probably nine.

What are the different ways you make money?

Dancing is a big part of it. Dancing and teaching. I teach classes around the world. And then there’s also my choreographer work. I choreograph for artists. At the moment, I’m working with K Pop artists, and that opened a great door to being on the show Street Fighter Woman 2. And then also I have my social media side, I work with brands and all that kind of jazz, which is exciting. I did a commercial with Hyundai in Korea. It just shows that dance is very universal and it can be connected. And even us speaking here, you know, it just shows dance is so special and it’s universal. It can bring people together, inspire them.

If you could sum up the experiences that have led to your success in one word what would it be? Passion and consistency.

What are you saving for? A property.

First big purchase? A Prada bag, it’s right here!

What is your go to treat? Donuts (Maple flavour from Dunkin’ Donuts – “Big Donut please get in touch”)

What brings you joy? Food, dance, donuts, spending time with family.

Last splurge? Spontaneous family trip to Fiji.