Luzon’s Top Dancers Shine at Red Bull Dance Your Style Manila Qualifiers

Another epic dance battle took place at the Red Bull Dance Your Style Manila Qualifiers, held last July 27 at Octopus in Makati. The intense competition showcased Luzon's top dance talents. With the conclusion of the series of qualifiers, the country eagerly awaits the grand showdown where finalists will battle it out for the coveted title and the chance to represent Philippines in the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals. 

The unique global street dance competition swept the nation with the regional qualifiers, challenging dancers from Cebu, Davao, and Manila to show off their talent as they freestyle to a random selection of songs. Each city hosted fierce battles, with dancers from across the country pushing their limits and captivating audiences with their unique styles and high-energy performances. Each of them were vying for a spot in the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finals. 

Manila witnessed an exceptional level of competition. The competition concluded with an unforgettable performance by Klockwise (Kenneth Martinez), who emerged victorious with his flawless moves and undeniable charisma. Reflecting on his Red Bull Dance Your Style journey.

“I’ve only (followed) Red Bull Dance Your Style via social media, then when it came to the Philippines, I went over to watch it live (and) the (following) year as well. When I was in the audience, I had a vision of myself performing on stage. That’s when I made it my goal that one day I would dance, perform, and show my skills. It’s super unexpected. I just wanted to enjoy, to show what I enjoy doing. I’ll prepare highlights and ground moves, create new patterns of my locking, and of course, listen to new music.” ~Klockwise (Kenneth Martinez)

He shared that his preparation for the qualifiers involved listening to a lot of music and freestyling to it. He also said he will do much of the same leading up to the National Finals.

Kid Magnus (Flourence Lavesores) who won first runner up, shared that the event felt less like a competition. 

“I really just enjoyed it. The crowd was so energetic and happy, which made me feel that I was just dancing, enjoying the music, dancing to the beat. I was a bit pressured because (my fellow) competitors (are) well known, but all of them were very nice.” ~Kid Magnus (Flourence Lavesores)

Tatai, a Japanese dancer who made it to the top 4, expressed her joy and enthusiasm at being able to join the competition. 

“It’s about letting your mind go crazy, expressing your love for dance, and enjoying music.I want to practice more, perfect my favorite dance, and give it my all on the next stage.” ~Tatai, a Japanese dancer

Klockwise, along with Kid Magnus, Tatai, and Q, also secured their spots for the National Finals, joining R3DMAN (Edrian Alcaria) and MSTR PIECE (Regie Harris Lavestre), the winner and first runner-up of the Davao qualifier. Included in the finalists are Nemesis (Sam Rivera) and Khlai (Khlai Vargaso Batula), the winner and first runner-up of the Cebu qualifier, to complete 8 finalists from the qualifiers. The remaining slots for the National Finals will be given to wildcard picks.

Red Bull Dance Your Style dance consultants, Vince Mendoza and Lema Diaz of the Philippine All-Stars, expressed their excitement for the upcoming National Finals especially after seeing the talents from the qualifiers in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. 

“There were so many unforgettable moments. You could tell that everybody brought their A-game and did not hold back. Everybody really wanted to have the top spot to participate in the National Finals. All you have to do is be yourself, show everybody what you’ve got. What makes you different from the rest is your own experience, your own flavor, where you come from. Carry that with you and let the crowd decide who moves on to the next (stage).” ~Lema Diaz of the Philippine All-Stars

On what he looks forward to seeing in the National finals. Vince Mendoza offered as his advice for dancers as they gear up for the National Finals.

“I want to see more identity, creativity, performance, and maturity of the dancers, understanding the message of the music and the crowd. That’s really hard to achieve as a dancer, but for the young generation, they’re really fast at learning and adapting. Listen to new music, different styles, and different genres. Enjoy the music; don't force yourself to train. It’s not about winning or losing; it’s about transformation. Accept your identity, accept your uniqueness, and showcase that uniqueness. Don’t be afraid and believe in yourself.” ~Vince Mendoza  of the Philippine All-Stars

As the Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines National Finals draw near, the anticipation is reaching fever pitch. Crowds from across the country eagerly await for what is set to be an electrifying and intense competition. The National Finals promises to be a spectacular celebration of street culture, featuring thrilling dance battles, stunning choreography, and a showcase of the nation’s best talent. 

Mark your calendars! Don’t miss the chance to be part of this incredible competition and support your favorite dancers as they compete for glory. Catch the Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines National Finals live on September 28 and keep an eye out for more details.  Get ready to witness the ultimate street dance showdown! Follow the Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines journey to the World Finals in India on November 9, 2024. 

For more information and updates regarding this year’s season of Red Bull Dance Your Style, visit the official Red Bull website and the following social media pages (Facebook | Instagram | Tiktok)

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 dancing.

Red Bull Dance Your Style Showcases Cebu’s Dance Scene in Provincial Qualifiers

The city of Cebu came alive with rhythm and energy for the Red Bull Dance Your Style Qualifiers last July 13, at APEX Super Club. Cebu’s finest dancers brought out their impressive skills and extraordinary talents, and went head to head to earn a spot in the upcoming National Finals.

Red Bull Dance Your Style, a global 1-on-1 street dance competition, encourages dancers’ individuality and creativity, and celebrates diverse dance styles from all over the world. Dancers are pushed to show off their insane improvisational skills and freestyle dance moves while dancing to unpredictable songs. The global competition stands out for its unique battle format, with the crowd deciding who moves on to the next stage of the competition. 

The competition was fierce with 16 dancers showcasing a stunning array of dance styles. Finalists at the Cebu qualifier did not disappoint, delivering jaw-dropping performances that left the audience in awe. JPY (Jeffrey Casas Toledo), Nemesis (Sam Rivera), Khlai (Khlai Vargaso Batula), and Baby Titan (Shihan Maui Ricablanca) made it to the Top 4. After a series of intense battle rounds, Nemesis was crowned as the winner. Her flawless performances throughout the competition earned her the top spot and a ticket to the National Finals.

“(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)

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 conclusion of the Cebu qualifiers, all eyes are now on the thrilling next round of the competition. The Red Bull Dance Your Style journey continues with the Manila qualifiers set for July 27, 2024, at Octopus Makati. More hopeful dancers across the country will compete for their chance to shine at the World Finals. 

Be part of the excitement! Keep an eye out for the last round of qualifiers and follow the Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines journey to the World Finals in India on November 9, 2024. Witness the Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines National Finals in September. You won’t want to miss this!

For more information and updates regarding this year’s season of Red Bull Dance Your Style, visit the official Red Bull website and the following social media pages (Facebook | Instagram | Tiktok )

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.