“(It) feels great. Last year, I only won second place so this serves as my redemption. Underground. This year, there are a lot of dancers from outside Cebu; some are my friends and some I just met during the competition. I think one of the highlights for this year is meeting new friends and competitors. Since the competition for the National Finals is already filtered from Baguio, Davao, and Manila, I need to level up my training. Nemesis had really unpredictable moves and undeniable skills.” ~Nemesis (Sam Rivera)
The city of Cebu came alive with rhythm and energy for the Red Bull Dance Your Style Qualifiers on July 13 at APEX Super Club. Cebu's top dancers demonstrated their impressive skills and extraordinary talents as they competed for a spot in the upcoming National Finals.
Red Bull Dance Your Style, a global 1-on-1 street dance competition, promotes individuality and creativity while celebrating diverse dance styles from around the world. Dancers are pushed to demonstrate their insane improvisational abilities and freestyle dance moves while performing to unpredictable music. The global competition is notable for its unique battle format, in which the audience decides who advances to the next stage of the competition.
The competition was fierce, with 16 dancers displaying an impressive variety of dance styles. Finalists at the Cebu qualifier did not disappoint, delivering jaw-dropping performances that left the audience speechless. JPY (Jeffrey Casas Toledo), Nemesis (Sam Rivera), Khlai (Khlai Vargaso Batula), and Baby Titan (Shihan Maui Ricablanca) advanced to the top four. Following a series of intense battle rounds, Nemesis was declared the winner. Her flawless performances throughout the competition earned her first place and a ticket to the National Finals.
Nemesis shared that what she found to be one of the highlights for this year’s competition was getting to compete with fellow members of her dance crew.
First runner up Khlai, who also secured her spot in the National Finals, expressed her joy for placing in the competition.
“It feels so surreal, I don’t even know where to begin. Today is the birthday of my grandfather who passed away. The performance that I did was dedicated to my grandfather and grandparents. I don’t really prepare that long or have a specific training, but I’ll try to do cardio for my stamina so that I can keep up with the dancers.” ~Khlai, First runner up
Khlai shared that her motivation to join the competition, despite her long-term knee injury, was her late grandfather.
In preparation for the National Finals, Khlai said she wanted to work on her stamina stating,
Philippine All-Stars legends and dance consultants Lema Diaz and Vince Mendoza were seen at the event.
“All I can say is that (the competition) was full of inspiration and new faces. Compared to last year, we multiplied by a lot. A lot of dancers supported Red Bull Dance Your Style and the skills really leveled up from last year. It’s going to be more crazy. We’re excited for the Manila qualifiers. There’s a lot of dancers and new faces. I’m excited that I can witness that moment. “We always tell them to always have fun no matter what. Win or lose, it’s all about the transformation. If you win, there’s transformation. If you lose, there’s transformation. It’s all about giving love to the community, to the next generation, to the OGs, to our past, present, and future.” ~Vince Mendoza, Philippine All-Stars legends and dance consultant
With the Cebu qualifiers completed, all eyes are now focused on the exciting next round of the competition. The Red Bull Dance Your Style journey continues with the Manila qualifiers scheduled for July 27, 2024, at Octopus Makati. More hopeful dancers from around the country will compete for a chance to shine at the World Finals.
Take part in the excitement! Keep an eye out for the final round of qualifiers, and follow Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines' journey to the World Finals in India on November 9, 2024. Watch the Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines National Finals in September. You won't want to miss it!
About Red Bull
Red Bull gives wings to people and ideas. As a functional beverage, we give wings to people by vitalizing the body and mind – supporting their dreams and aspirations through their passion for dance.
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