About - IDCO

Identity Dance Company (IDCO) is an Auckland-based street dance company bringing Aotearoa’s creativity to the world stage. Known for a distinctive, futuristic movement style, IDCO combines precision, musicality and imagination with a community built on connection, commitment and a shared love of dance.

Our story began in 2008 with a group of boys from Western Springs College and Mt Albert Grammar. After success at national and international competitions, Joshua Cesan expanded that original crew into Identity Dance Company in 2014. Today, IDCO brings together generations of dancers, choreographers and mentors, supported by the families and friends who have helped shape the company from the beginning.

World-class results. A collective achievement.

IDCO’s Hip Hop International World Championship tally now stands at 18 medals: 5 gold, 9 silver and 4 bronze. Our latest results include the 2026 Varsity World Championship title and 2026 Junior Varsity MegaCrew silver medal. These achievements build on multiple New Zealand national titles across Junior, Varsity, Adult, MiniCrew, MegaCrew and Junior Varsity MegaCrew divisions.

Our recent international highlights also include:

2026 International Dance League Sydney, Community Division winners.
2025 World of Dance Finals, Los Angeles, Overall Champions, Yung ID.
2024 World of Dance, Junior Team World Champions, Imprint.
2025 World Dance Crew Championship, Junior Supercrew champions, Yung ID, and Open Supercrew runners up, IDCO.

IDCO also headlined the World of Dance showcase in 2023 and 2024. Every result reflects the work of our dancers, choreographers and wider community and our commitment to helping the next generation develop their own voice.

Beyond the competition floor.

Our work extends into theatre, festivals, film, commercial performance and dance education. The Voice of Vision debuted at Q Theatre in 2025 and was presented at the Hamilton Arts Festival in 2026. Exploring resonance, movement and creative energy, the production brings IDCO’s street dance language into an immersive theatrical setting.

IDCO dancers and choreographers have contributed to projects including Born to Dance, The Stage: Haka Fusion, Laservision Mega Media Dubai, music videos with international artists, and campaigns for brands including Sony and Steinlager Tokyo Dry.

Creating space for dancers to grow.

IDCO is also the creator of I-DEVELOP, an annual dance experience in New Zealand connecting local and international artists through training, exchange and community. It brings leading street dance artists together with emerging and established dancers to share knowledge, explore movement and build lasting connections.

From training and mentorship to international competition and original performance, our purpose remains the same: to develop confident, creative artists, create opportunities, and share Aotearoa’s street dance with the world.

Josh Cesan

Company Director, Choreographer, Mentor

Joshua Cesan is the Director of Identity Dance Company (IDCO), a choreographer and mentor whose distinctive movement language has helped shape the company’s international reputation. His signature style, ‘Glitching’, combines precision, musicality and imaginative movement, and is recognised by dancers around the world. Under his leadership, IDCO has earned multiple national and international titles, including 18 Hip Hop International World Championship medals: 5 gold, 9 silver and 4 bronze.

Commercially Josh has worked on many projects with artists and companies internationally, some of these projects include choreographing for a Guinness World Record projection-mapping show for Laservision Mega Media Dubai, choreographing and having main roles in NZ’s first Hip Hop dance movie Born to Dance, performing in advertisements for Sony, Les Mills, Steinlager and Toray in Japan. He has also choreographed and performed in music videos for KPOP group MONSTA X, Shapeshifter, Virus Syndicate and Deadbeat. Josh has also choreographed and performed for NZ light suit company Vospertron in various countries such as Russia, Malaysia, Macau and Australia.

As a teacher he is highly sought after internationally having taught in multiple countries around the world including various dance camps such as Summerjam in Singapore and Devotion Dance Camp in Thailand, and prestigious studios such as Sinostage, Kinjazdojo and Quickstyle in China and The LAB, Movement Lifestyle, Snowglobe and Kinjaz Dojo in the US.

He is also a graduate of the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Dance Studies where he also achieved the Blues award for the highest achievements in the arts. The countries Josh has Choreographed, taught or danced in are:

USA
Australia
Japan
Malaysia
Singapore
China
Thailand
Mexico
Tahiti
Macau
Russia
Fiji
Tonga

Codie Jai

Assistant Director, Choreographer, Mentor

Codie Jai Wescombe is a dancer, choreographer, mentor and creative & visual director, known for her versatility, creative direction and commitment to developing dancers. Codie’s dance journey started when she was 3 years of age. She has been mentored by one of Australia’s most sought-after hip hop influenced choreographers, Taneikah ’T’ Wescombe, Director/owner of The House of Sole.

Codie Jai is respected for her versatility across Hip Hop, street & club Dance genres and an increasing repertoire of commercial, cultural and conventional dance styles influenced by the opportunities she has been presented with. She is known for her artistic flair in exploring and expressing movement, her spirited energy and ability to inspire quality creative outcomes.
Codie Jai is a passionate advocate of a collaborative, supportive & innovative dance community, valuing sportsmanship, shared achievement & healthy role modelling within the evolving industry.

Some top credits include:

Assistant Director/Dancer/Teacher/Choreographer, multi-award winning The House of Sole
Assistant Director/Dancer/Mentor/Teacher/Choreographer, multi-award winning Identity Dance Company
2022 Hip Hop International World Championships, 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal
Teaching in New Zealand, Guam, the United States and across Australia.
Adjudicator in Australia and New Zealand-wide
Adult Champion winner of Grounded 2018 and “Most Outstanding Team Performance”
Lived in China for 3 months on a contract with an entertainment company called SDT, back up dancing for artists and dancing on multiple TV shows, events and artist tours.
Hired by internationally recognised choreographer Kiel Tutin, as a back up dancer for various well known artists such as Taiwanese artist JOLIN Tsai, Tia Lee & Kun.
Dancer, choreographer and coach of multi-award-winning teams such as Genetik & Sole fam, National and international Championships
Dancers Paradise Mexico winners in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Chevy Mikaere

Choreographer, Mentor

Chevy Mikaere is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. He is a member of the Identity Dance Company (IDCO), with whom he has achieved national and international competition success.

Commercially, Chevy has performed for the NZ light suit company Vospertron in various countries such as Russia, Malaysia, Macau, and Australia. He has also taught dance to people of all ages and abilities, from teaching at Choice Kid Day Care and Manukau Primary School to adult beginners at the dance studio.

Chevy is a graduate of Excel School of Performing Arts Dance Studies, where he graduated at the top of his class. He went on to do a 20-week tour of New Zealand and Germany with the school. His screen credits include choreography for the children’s television programme Toi Time. He is passionate about using dance to inspire and empower people of all ages.

Jah Tautolo

Choreographer, Mentor

Jahstice “Jah” Tautolo is a choreographer and mentor at Identity Dance Company, bringing a background in Krump, battle culture and performance to his work.

Dancing since 2011, Jah has trained in performing arts at Excel and developed his practice with IDCO as both a dancer and choreographer. His achievements span the battle and choreography worlds, including:

2014 rookie Krump champ
2022 beatdown Krump champ
3x Battlezone winner
2x Excel Performing arts Male dancer of the year
2017 IDCO HHI NZ National champ
2018 IDCO 2nd place at Dancers paradise
2018 IDCO Male dancer of the year
2019 IDCO 1st place at Upgrade
2019 Choreography award
2019 HHI Gold medal choreography
2022 HHI Silver medal choreography
2022 HHI Bronze medal choreography

Caleb Cameron-Lee

Choreographer, Mentor

Caleb Cameron-Lee is a dancer, choreographer and mentor who brings discipline, creativity and performance experience to his teaching. Starting out as a studio dancer Caleb had found his way to IDCO at the age of eleven. Since then he has made a name for himself in the New Zealand dance community, and has competed with crews Yung ID and Swagganauts receiving both a Gold and silver medal at the World Hip Hop Championships in 2019 and 2022. Caleb has trained and performed with the NZX Next adult training programme and has done commercial dance work under his agency Red11 introducing him to the dance industry.

Caleb is an inspiring dancer who wishes to further his knowledge and movement to share his own creativity and passion with others.

Ben Lowe

Choreographer, Mentor

Ben Lowe has been part of Identity Dance Company since 2017 and joined the choreography team in 2022. Dancing with Swagganauts and Yung-ID from 2017-19, before moving into IDCO (adult megacrew) from 2020-21. His experience also includes performing with I-Descendant and choreographing for I2D. His passion and leadership bring an uplifting energy into every training and helps set the standards for both his teammates and students. Ben is a super chill dude who grew up in Pukekohe and enjoys gaming, anime, and also has a second passion for making music.

Outside of IDCO, his other dancing achievements/experiences include: Teaching at Groovit Dance Studio since 2014, where he started his dance journey at the age of 10, performed with Momentum Productions in 2020-21, and has also done various shows, festivals, gigs and videos such as Tempo, Spotlight, BNZ ads, Blank Canvas and the Auckland Arts Festival.

Ben has completed a Bachelor of Dance Studies with Auckland University where he further refined his relationship between himself and movement while preparing for the freelance scene.
With an HHI gold in the varsity division and a bronze in the adult division Ben uses his experience to contribute to anything he is a part of and is excited for the near and far future of IDCO.

Raych Tapsell

Choreographer, Mentor

Raychel is a dedicated and passionate dancer, predominantly trained in Hip Hop and Street Dance. For the past decade, she has shaped herself into an outgoing and hard-working dancer in the professional dance scene in New Zealand. After creating an immediate connection with the Cesan brothers in 2013 she felt right at home and has been a member of Identity Dance Company ever since. Raychel has competed with crews Shique, Masque, Yung ID, IDCO, I-Descendant and IG receiving 2 Bronze Medals at the World Hip Hop Championships in 2018 and 2022. Raychel has trained with the NZX Next Adult training programme for three years and has competed and performed with NZXX overseas with Choreographer Todd Williamson.

Since working in the industry, she spent the majority of 2022 touring and performing for Tamariki around New Zealand and Australia with Mahi Pai, a comprehensive education programme sharing Te Reo Maori and NZ sign language in a fun and exciting way. Raychel was a dancer in five episodes of the television series ‘The Exceptional Squad’ and a Music video ‘Down on You Luck’ by SACHI. Raychel’s vibrant energy inspires us, as she continues to grow in the presence of her peers and biggest inspirations. She has a passion for learning and giving all she can to our community and to an industry that is always evolving!

Coby Brooks

Choreographer, Mentor

Jessica Hetherington

Choreographer, Mentor