First Thursdays is please to announce that TRIPLe8FUNk Dance Company, which is one of the biggest Hip Hop / Street Dance Companies in Austral-Asia will be performing on the 3rd of December!!

Joel Fuentes Gallarde is the Founder, Director, and Head Choreographer of The Company of University Dancers (CUDZ), which is based at The University of Auckland, and the TRiPLe8FuNk Dance Company.

He is a graduate of The University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Film, Television, Media and Spanish. In 2004, he was awarded ‘The BLUES Award’ which is the highest award for student service and excellence by The University of Auckland. In 2009, he was also awarded “Best Club President’ by The Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) for his leadership with CUDZ.

In 2006, Joel traveled 5 continents around the world to train, expand & do research on the latest Hip Hop and Funk Dance styles. From Korea, Japan, Paris, Pineapple Studios in London, Do Dat Studios in Toronto, to Los Angeles, San Diego, and Broadway Dance Centre in New York to name a few. He has judged Hip Hop Dance competitions and taught Hip Hop Dance workshops in the Philippines, USA, Argentina, Australia and Brazil and have made a worldwide network in the international Hip Hop Dance community.

Joel led the TRiPLe8FuNk Dance Team to represent New Zealand in the 2007 World Hip Hop Championships in Los Angeles, USA and ranked 5th in the world!

For more information on what TRIPLe8FUNk is all about check them out at: www.triple8funk.com