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Originating from Cape Town, South Africa, and flourishing within the dynamic dance scene of New Zealand, Kirsten Dodgen has risen to iconic status in the world of dance. Despite being just 25 years old, she has already graced the stage alongside international superstars like Rihanna and Jungkook of BTS, and her journey is far from reaching its peak. I’ve known of her since her days as a member of the Royal Family Dance Crew but she has gained the attention of many worldwide for her role as the leader of Jam Republic on the popular Korean dance competition show, Mnet Street Woman Fighter 2.
Kirsten has been setting the dance world on fire since she was old enough to groove to music, “My mom always told me that ever since I could walk, I would be bouncing. When I was a little baby I always loved to move and couldn’t stop moving. So, my mom put me into ballet, jazz and my passion for dancing kind of slowly grew—and this is all back in South Africa —and then we moved to New Zealand when I was six and my mom put me into a hip hop school across the road from where we were living because my parents saw something in me. I then started doing battles as a part of a crew. We would just go up to other crews and shake around. It wasn’t too serious, but at that moment, I think my mom saw the spark because I couldn’t get enough of moving to music.”
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Her approach to dance is all about the feeling it evokes, both in herself and her audience. Kirsten believes that dance is a universal language and that the power of music and movement can transcend barriers. She passionately shared, “Anything that makes me feel some type of way is what makes me excited. When I dance or choreograph, I don’t mind what genre I’m dancing to, as long as it makes me feel something. That is what my movement is about because I also want the audience to feel the character that I’m becoming through the music. I want people to feel and see the beats through me because feeling is a big thing for me.” If you’ve seen Kirsten dance, you’ll know that she captures the nuances of any song or genre through her movements and that her goal of making people feel something is always achieved because of her skills and clear love for the art of dance. I had to ask her about Amapiano and she enthusiastically shared her love and appreciation for the genre that’s been taking the world by storm. She exclaimed, “I can’t get enough of it! It’s always been out there but it’s amazing to see the world fall in love with it — it’s all I see and hear when I scroll through my TikTok!”
@kirstendodgenn
Kirsten’s performances are not just choreography; they are an embodiment of the music’s character, rhythm, and emotions. However, it may come as a surprise to many that dance wasn’t always Kirsten’s lifelong aspiration. Her dance career unfolded organically, driven by her love for movement and the unwavering support of her family. She never set out with a grand plan to make it as a dancer; her journey was guided by her deep passion for the art. She simply wanted to make people feel something special when they watched her dance, and that desire became the cornerstone of her career. She humbly reflected on this, “I never thought that I could get a career or be blessed enough for what I’ve achieved at this age. I honestly wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for my family and those who supported me and everyone that I’ve touched base with through my journey and also the man upstairs because I never really had the goal of ‘I’m going to make it.’ It just happened because of the pure love and passion I have for it.”
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She continued, “I know it’s so cliche to say, but I just trusted and held on to what I love so much. And I feel like if you love something as much as I love dance, you can make anything happen. The love can honestly carry you throughout it all.” She also shared that her happiness doesn’t solely stem from movement but from how people react to her performances, “I saw the way people lit up with me just doing silly faces or moving when I was younger, my family would hype me up and there’d be this joyous energy. And that’s what I wanted people to feel. I wanted them to either cheer up, put a smile on their face or feel some type of way. That was my push to dance.” Now that she is a professional dancer and choreographer, Kirsten hopes to inspire others to pursue what they love and trust that their love for their craft is enough to carry them, “You have got to trust the journey and that through thick and thin everything will always work out.”
For many, Kirsten Dodgen became synonymous with the Royal Family Dance Crew. Kirsten’s journey within the dance community started in 2011 when she joined the junior crew of the Palace Dance Studio, Bubblegum. Over the years, she progressed through different levels and eventually became a part of the iconic ReQuest. Although she’s currently on a different path, Dodgen remains grateful for the opportunities and lessons she learned during her time with the Royal Family. She reflected, “The Palace Dance Studio is still kept close to my heart and I’m very grateful for my base and what I learned through the Royal Family. Especially, learning through Parris Goebel, she is incredible — one of a kind. She taught me and helped me grow into the ‘new’ Kirsten, I wouldn’t be the woman or dancer that I am without my experiences with the Royal Family. So, I’m grateful for the opportunities and the lessons learned.”
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Kirsten is now a part of Jam Republic Agency, alongside Audrey Lane, Emma Huch, Latrice Kabamba and Ling Zhang. Together they make up the remarkable dance unit on Street Woman Fighter 2 (SWF2), led by Kirsten. Jam Republic was established specifically for their participation in the reality dance competition and despite most of them just meeting for the first time on the show, Kirsten and her fellow crew members have quickly formed a strong bond, both professionally and personally. Their synergy and the genuine connections they’ve developed through the challenges of the competition are a testament to their collective strength. I for one, was completely shocked at the fact that Kirsten, Audrey, Emma, Latrice and Ling only began dancing together on the show because their chemistry is unreal. Dodgen shared, “It’s so crazy that we’ve become so close in a short period of time because of experiencing the show together. We get to learn from each other because of the different backgrounds we have. They are all so incredible and talented and as the leader of the crew, watching them and guiding them has been surreal. I want the best for them – always. And I will always fight for them. We’ve become a sisterhood now because we’re all super genuine and raw as individuals and as dancers.”
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Dodgen shared that her time in Korea has been nothing short of an opportunity for growth — personally and professionally— She knew of the K-Pop scene through Kiel Tutin, a very accomplished choreographer who has worked with Blackpink, Sunmi, HyunA, MonstaX and more. However, her participation in SWF2 has allowed her to really immerse herself in the Korean music and dance space, “I hadn’t battled since I was little, running around and shaking booty and thinking I was cool. So, for me to go into not just choreography but also being a part of a group, doing performances and the other side of battling has been intense. We’ve had to work under pressure, create pieces and complete missions in the K-Pop spaces which has pushed a lot of boundaries for me. The show is so woman-centric and is all about woman empowerment because there are female dancers from all over the world. It’s so interesting and cool to see the different crews and their strengths and creativity and to see how K-Pop choreography works.” As a SWF2 fan, I have noted that Jam Republic has received an immense amount of love and support from netizens across the globe for their humble attitudes and their talent, something that I shared with Kirsten. Her response mirrored what most of us already see on our screens, “As Jam Republic, we just wanted to have fun. The love has been incredible and I can’t thank everyone enough for supporting us and having an open mind to us as an international crew. It’s been challenging but it’s a good push and I’m excited and grateful for everyone watching.”
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Kirsten acknowledges that a dancer’s life is not without its share of challenges. Her early experiences were marked by a lack of support from some who doubted her chosen path. She faced scepticism and dismissal from teachers (except for one) who didn’t see the value of hip-hop in her Christian school. Overcoming these hurdles required self-belief, determination, and the unwavering support of her family. The pure passion for her artistry poured through when she said, “We live in a world where things are constantly evolving and I think creatives have broken the stereotype that you have to study in an academic setting to be successful. Creativity is a different kind of way of thinking. I didn’t get the highest grades at school and I always felt like I was out of place. I’m so thankful that I trusted in danced and worked through the criticisms and the doubts until I started succeeding and bringing in the wins. Unfortunately, that is when a lot of people start supporting you.”
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Dodgen’s open-minded approach to her career leaves her excited for potential future collaborations with a diverse range of artists. While she’s open to new partnerships, she has a particular dream: she’d love to work with Beyoncé one day, “When I was younger I used to jump on a trampoline in the backyard and pretend I was dancing with Rihanna or JLo and when I did the Super Bowl, I was standing there and I remembered jumping to the songs I was now dancing to. So, although Beyonce is the one person I would love to work with still, I look forward to whoever else is to come.” Kirsten finds inspiration in a wide array of sources, from renowned dancers like Caetlyn Watson and Parris Goebel to the emotions evoked by different performances and art forms. She believes that inspiration can be drawn from anyone or anything that makes you feel a certain way, “It doesn’t have to be a dancer, it’s anything people hold close to their hearts or how they hold themselves. I feel very inspired by people and how they feel or do things.”Kirsten’s current favourite song is “Water” by Tyla, highlighting her eclectic taste in music.
As for the future, Kirsten approaches it with an open heart and a sense of adventure. Her journey is all about exploring new horizons and embracing opportunities beyond dance, without a specific plan but with an unwavering trust in the process. In a world that often tries to categorize and limit artistic expression, Kirsten Dodgen is a shining example of breaking barriers. Her dedication to dance, her belief in herself, and her openness to diverse collaborations promise a bright and innovative future for this exceptional artist. Kirsten’s story is a reminder that following your passion and staying true to yourself can lead to success beyond your wildest dreams, “If I was to give anyone advice it would be to just trust yourself. Ignore the madness and trust yourself because your journey is your own. You don’t want to be walking the same pathway as everyone else. Trust the journey. Walk in faith. Through thick and thin, through any storm, through the sun — keep moving forward.”
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