Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Rachael Gunn is an interdisciplinary and practice-based researcher interested in the cultural politics of breaking. She holds a PhD in Cultural Studies (2017) and a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Music (2009) from Macquarie University. Her work draws on cultural theory, dance studies, popular music studies, media, and ethnography.
Rachael is a practising breaker and goes by the name of 'Raygun'. She was the AusBreaking top ranked bgirl in 2020 and 2021, and represented Australia at the World Breaking Championships in Paris in 2021, in Seoul in 2022, and in Leuven (Belgium) in 2023. She won the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.
Rachael is a member of the Macquarie University Performance and Expertise Research Centre.
Teaching:
Rachael has a range of teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels across the areas of media, creative industries, music, dance, cultural studies, and work-integrated learning.
Research Interests:
Breaking, street dance, and hip-hop culture; youth cultures/scenes; constructions of the dancing body; politics of gender and gender performance; ethnography; the methodological dynamics between theory and practice.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Projects
- 1 Finished
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Spaces for Street Dance - research and feasibility study
Gunn, R., Shaheen, F., Mohamed, A., Tauv, A., Napalan, L., Wardana, J., Peke, S., Reid, K., Cornell, M. & Duong, A.
1/02/23 → 31/10/23
Project: Research
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"In a good way there's no beef, but the bad thing is there's no beef": Tensions and changing cultural politics in Sydney's breaking scene
Gunn, R., 2025, Representing hip hop histories, politics and practices in Australia. Dowsett, S., Marie, L., Rodger, D. & Saunders, G. L. (eds.). London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, p. 191-207 17 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Australia
Saunders, G. L. & Gunn, R., 20 Dec 2023, In: Global Hip Hop Studies. 3, 1-2, p. 23-32 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile187 Downloads (Pure) -
Dance and Protest Special Issue Editorial
Gunn, R., Aprahamian, S., Park, M. & Bell, S., 31 Jul 2023, In: IASPM Journal: journal of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music. 13, 2, p. 1-11 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Open AccessFile702 Downloads (Pure) -
The Australian breaking scene and the Olympic Games: the possibilities and politics of sportification
Gunn, R. & Marie, L., Jun 2023, In: Global Hip Hop Studies. 4, 1, p. 39-56 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4793 Downloads (Pure) -
Nafada: industrial, hip-hop, and the diasporic condition
Gunn, R., Khamis, S. & Collins, S., 2022, Bodies, noise and power in industrial music. Whittaker, J. & Potter, E. (eds.). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 37-54 18 p. (Pop Music, Culture, and Identity; vol. Part F1531).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Activities
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‘Generative Dancing: Glocal Street Dance Cultures in Australia’ - roundtable panellist
Rachael Gunn (Speaker)
19 Apr 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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'Destructive Steps Street Dance Film Festival' [Host]
Rachael Gunn (Invited speaker)
8 Sept 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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'Online Battles and Cyphers in Street Dance and Hip Hop Cultures' - Closing Roundtable of Popular Dance: Pivoting Towards Digital Sociality
Rachael Gunn (Invited speaker)
21 Nov 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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International Association for Studies of Popular Music (External organisation)
Rachael Gunn (Member)
2022 → 2024Activity: Membership › Membership of board
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Popular Dance: Pivoting Towards Digital Sociality
Elena Benthaus (Organiser), Rachael Gunn (Organiser) & Dara Milovanovic (Organiser)
19 Nov 2022 → 20 Nov 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop or event series
Press/Media
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ABC Sport interview on challenges facing Aussie breakers qualifying for the Olympics
30/05/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Triple J Hack interview on the challenges facing Aussie breakers to qualify for the Olympics
30/05/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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ABC News interview on challenges facing Aussie breakers qualifying for the Olympics
30/05/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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'Off the Podium' interview on my breaking research and creative practice
6/04/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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2SER interview on 'Spaces for Street Dance' Research Grant
21/02/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research