Teams are ready to shake it to the beat

As the 2007 USA & World Hip Hop Championships roll into town this week, they’re bringing together an international crew of dancers, B-boys and fly girls, including O.G. Dublin krumpers and Nepalese pop-and-lockers. And why not? Originated as a uniquely American form, hip-hop has seen its influence extend well beyond these shores.

Transcending hip-hop’s roots as a guerrilla form of self-expression, the championship (now in its sixth year) is a rigorously judged contest. Teams of five to eight people compete in three age brackets, presenting a choreographed two-minute routine.

Wacking, punking, breaking, old school, new school, new jack swing and other styles will be on display. But without proper technique or respect for the foundations of hip-hop, teams won’t get far. “You see kids wearing the hats and the gold chains, but it’s not just about that,” says head judge Natasha Jean Bart. “It’s about loving something so much that you learn everything about it.”

Among the 1,500 participants from 30 nations, the New Zealand team Dziah (pronounced by slurring the word “desire”), which includes several indigenous Maori dancers, will be battling for ultimate glory. Joshua Martin, a co-founder of the crew, says, “In 2005, our first year in the competition, we came in eighth place. In 2006, we came in second place. This year we’re here to win.”

Though the U.S. is the undisputed leader in hip-hop dance, the form is burgeoning all over. Aside from New Zealand, Martin recommends seeing teams from Australia, the Philippines and Ireland: “Ireland was a surprise to me. But they were really good at keeping true to the hip-hop legacy.”

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USA & World Hip Hop Championships, today through Sunday, Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach; Torrance Marriott, 3635 Fashion Way, Torrance. $15 to $50. www.hiphopinternational.com.