Are you excited for PROWL FEST at Auckland Pride Festival 2026? We sure are! Opening this week – PROWL is a must-see extravaganza.
If you don’t know PROWL FEST is a multi-event dance and performance celebration that’s part of the city’s wider Pride month programme. PROWL is a street dance-theatre spectacle exploring femininity, identity, and the fluidity of self. Winner of multiple Auckland Fringe 2024 awards, including Outstanding Movement, NZ Fringe Tour Ready, and Auckland Arts Festival Tuakana, this groundbreaking work is created and performed by the acclaimed Prowl Productions ensemble.
It’s presented by Prowl Productions in partnership with Proud Centres and Raynham Park, running across multiple dates in February 2026 in Auckland.
The festival focuses on waacking and street dance culture, celebrates femme power, queer expression and community, and includes both free and ticketed events across venues like Te Oro, Ellen Melville Centre and Raynham Park.
What better way to get your lips smacking with anticipation than to introduce the amazing Femmes of PROWL FEST?
Vivian Xu:
Born in Hong Kong, Vivian Xu is a dancer based in Aotearoa, known for her versatile and
compelling performance style. She is a core dancer with Prowl Productions, featuring in
productions like PROWL and Waacking Extravaganza, as well as various gigs including the
Platypus Shoes Say it with Pride event. Vivian also brings her captivating movement to the
fashion world, dancing for Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa. With a strong presence and passion for
dance, she continues to engage diverse audiences, blending street styles and contemporary
influences to create powerful, memorable performances.
Vivian Xu.
Layla Doyle:
Layla Dole is a Sri Lankan Malay model and performer based in Aotearoa, represented by
Unique Model Management. She has worked across campaigns, catwalks, and commercial
projects, and featured in Moana Currents: Dressing Aotearoa Now. As a performer, Layla has
appeared in music videos, danced for various music artists, and performed on assorted stages
including World of Wearable Art. Some of her work with Prowl Productions include PROWL,
Revolving Reflections, and Waacking Extravaganza. She is also a member of the trail
blazing House of Coven-Aucoin winning Grand Prize for Body on her debut at Marama ball.
One of New Zealand’s pioneering waackers, she brings power, grace, and cultural pride to every
stage she steps on, fusing fashion, movement, and identity in bold, unapologetic expression.
Layla Dole.
Ansel Xu:
Ansel Xu will Judge for Battles Sat 14 Feb and take part in EMC Waacking Workshop Tue 17 Feb.
Xu is a movement artist whose training spans Waacking, Soul Dance, Ballet,
Contemporary and Latin Ballroom – a range he has cultivated over 20 years of practice. A
graduate of Beijing Sport University, he began his professional dance journey in 2006 and
later joined the Beijing Modern Dance Troupe from 2015–2016.
His stage experience includes runner-up at the 2016 Beijing Open Style Dance Battle, Top 4
at Who Cares Waacking Battle 2016 (China), guest dancer for the Parris Project 2017 with
The Royal Family, and champion of The Projection 2017 with Jaackers. As a judge, he looks for dancers who move with clarity, intention, and a distinctive personal
voice.
Ansel Xu.
DJ Amero:
AMERO (she/any) is a fierce rising Aotearoa DJ blending her Danish and Rarotongan roots into explosive EDM/DnB/Multi Genre-d sets. After three years behind the decks, closing off the Your Shot 2025 competition on the Fireball Stage, and representing her fellow wahine DJs in Top Of The Class Wahine at Il Brutto, she’s charged up and ready to ignite every dancefloor she steps onto.
Catch AMERO DJ-ing at the after-party of award-winning dance-theatre show PROWL on Fri 27 March at Raynham Park Studio!
Grab tickets here.
DJ AMERO.
Now go support local, lgbtq+ artists and get tickets here.
