RISING, Melbourne’s festival of music, art and performance, returns to ignite the city from 27 May to 8 June 2026, and the festival has unveiled the first piece of its 2026 program: global street-dance phenomenon The Royal Family Dance Crew, who will bring their explosive new all-ages showcase Defend the Throne to Hamer Hall on Sunday 7 June.
Founded by powerhouse choreographer Parris Goebel, the Aotearoa/New Zealand crew has shaped the visual language of pop culture for more than a decade. After dominating the World Hip Hop Dance Championships with three consecutive MegaCrew titles (2011–13), the group quickly became the creative engine behind many of pop’s most recognisable moments. They ’re the artists behind the moves that have defined a generation: Bieber, Gaga, Doja, JLo, RiRi, Janet, Ciara, Ariana. If an icon needs a performance to hit harder, they call The Royal Family Dance Crew.
Now, as part of RISING 2026, the crew arrives in Melbourne with a highoctane, no-mercy showcase that sweeps through their most iconic sets from the past 14 years, alongside brand new choreography unleashed for the first time. From Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” video and its four billion-plus views, to Rihanna and JLo’s Super Bowl halftime shows, The Royal Family Dance Crew’s influence is everywhere. It’s why Lady Gaga got in touch with Goebel when she wanted to re-enter her Imperial Phase with “Abracadabra.” Now, Melbourne audiences are invited into the throne room for a rare, electrifying encounter with the kings and queens of street dance.
“The Royal Family Dance Crew aren’t just cultural powerhouses; they’ve reshaped the global language of movement. Their work is fierce, precise and completely unfiltered,” said RISING Artistic Director and CEO Hannah Fox. “It speaks to the energy we’re looking to bring to RISING in 2026, and our very first edition of the Australian Dance Biennial, a new pillar of the festival. To be presenting an artistic group whose impact is felt everywhere, from music videos to stadium stages, feels exactly right. Defend the Throne is going to hit Melbourne like a lightning bolt.”
Rooted in Polyswagg, the visceral street-dance style born from the fire of Aotearoa’s Polynesian youth, The Royal Family Dance Crew’s work is raw, instinctive and drenched in feeling. Goebel’s approach is less about counting beats and more about charging through music as a family, tapping into intensity, rhythm and emotional spark. It’s a style that has clocked billions of views, dominated the global stage and redefined what a dance crew can be.
Presented in RISING as part of the inaugural Australian Dance Biennial, Defend the Throne signals the scale and ambition of this new platform. Launching in 2026, the Biennial will bring a nationally representative selection of Australian dance into dialogue with significant international works, creating a major new gathering point for artists, companies and audiences. Alongside a curated program spanning every state and territory, it will host a National Dance Gathering, a dedicated BlakFutures program, and an international delegate initiative designed to strengthen touring pathways and global visibility.
Stay tuned for further RISING announcements in 2026, with the full program set to be unveiled in March.
