*The Creator’s Sketchbook podcast series by DIGITAL 精 华 [SERUM] connects with Kiwi artists working as professional creatives post-COVID. The podcast aims to decode challenges that creative practitioners face in 2025, and their triumphs.

Dancers and freelance producers, The Sixxes are about inclusion and community.

Put together by Karoline Tamati, also known as Ladi6, the Dance Captain, Amanda Wilson says Ladi was just experimenting with an idea in 2018 while planning an opening set for Jhené Aiko, then it came to life.

“We did one song, Ladi was just like nothing serious, we’ll do it, and if it fits, we’ll go from there, and now we’re here seven years later,” Wilson said.

Jasmine Dey, the Sixxes’ marketing manager, joined the team just before COVID. At the time she had been working five jobs and was dancing for fitness and fun. She is also the marketing manager for the Māoriland film festival based in Ōtaki.

Securing their first sponsorship partnership with Adidas before the Le Vā tour in July was huge, she said. And super exciting for the team.

Looking ahead, they’re working to secure funding for community projects like school holiday programs, which they used to do.

“When we stopped doing that, which was from 2021 to now…I still have parents that follow me on social media who will ask regularly when will that be on again.

“Kids that we used to teach, still are curious. It really showed me the power and the impact. So, another dream to add now for the next six months is for us to teach classes of The Sixxes’ choreography,” Wilson said.

*Cover photo credit: SPANR+CTRL https://www.instagram.com/spanr_ctrl/?hl=en

*Sound/beats: J Skylab https://soundcloud.com/jskylab/4-my-day-ones-are-3

Watch and listen to the full interview below: