Dance supersedes borders, as Red Bull’s “Dance Your Style” amplifies the world’s renowned talent. Placing purveyors of the art under the spotlight, its unspoken tongue is deafening—translated through movements embraced through sound that amplifies its euphoric qualities.
Instagram: @redbullph
Culminating its Manila and Cebu Qualifiers, Red Bull’s “Dance Your Style” settles along the bustling 5th Street of Bonifacio Global City this September 2, 2023, as its National Finals are soon underway. The festivities feature 16 of the region’s best through a roster of qualified and wildcard acts, with one claiming the sole Philippine slot in the November Frankfurt, Germany finals. Supporters may attend the one-night free admission event by registering on the brand’s website.
Scouring the competition, Complex Philippines looks into the narrative of finalists Mickey (Baguio) and Nemesis (Cebu), tackling their undying love for dance, their aspirations, and the subsequent growth of the local culture.
Mickey
Instagram: @redbullph, @waacker.mickey
The Philippines poses as the epicenter of dance, as many of the world’s stars have Filipino blood and culture ingrained in them. Do you have any Pinoy inspirations you look up to, whether local or international?
Yes. A lot. Lea Alhambra, Reflex Gotangco, Patrick Mabanta, James Wong, Prince Paltu-ob, Vince Mendoza, Dhztine Bernardino, Lema Diaz, Christian Lao, JB Estrada, Clara Bajado to name a few.
Has there been a time you thought of giving up dance?
Yes. A few times. Especially when COVID-19 happened, on top of living in a third-world country is making it harder to be an artist. It’s always about the lack of financial support and opportunities. But because of doing side hustles, I managed to keep pursuing dance.
What motivates you to continue pursuing it?
Seeing the community grow and witnessing new budding dancers constantly motivate me to pursue it—wanting me to teach and help them find their north star.
What was the experience like competing in front of your home audience, and do you have any thoughts going into the international level of competition?
Competing and performing in front of my people feels nothing like home. It always traces me back to my roots and reminds me of the adversities I overcame to get where I am now. It is empowering.
Instagram: @waacker.mickey
How would you describe your dancing style?
I would describe my style as somewhat androgynous. I love expressing my sexual duality of being feminine and masculine using different dance styles or genres. In fact, I love challenging people’s perceptions of what’s feminine and masculine.
What makes it unique?
My duality is what also makes my dance unique. I also love to do daring and unexpected stunts to surprise my audience.
How has the Filipino dance/hip-hop community evolved throughout the years?
It has grown so big and strong. I remember how few we were when I was just starting. The previous generation of teachers and coaches have done well in teaching this new generation of dancers, elevating their skill level and artistry to a whole new level. Although we still have a lot of room to grow, I hope dance in the Philippines will exceed far beyond the competition.
Nemesis
Instagram: @redbullph, @igotcolors
The Philippines poses as the epicenter of dance, as many of the world’s stars have Filipino blood and culture ingrained in them. Do you have any Pinoy inspirations you look up to, whether local or international?
Filipinos are definitely great dancers because they dance from the heart. The person I look up to the most is my big homie, Pat Mabanta (Haxxyb), who is one of the OGs of the Philippine Krump. He has been training me for almost five years, being one of the first who recognized my potential. He’s been an amazing dancer up until now.
Has there been a time you thought of giving up dance?
There was a time before that I stopped dancing KRUMP for five months because I lost a dance battle, which I prepared so much for. That loss broke my heart, but it made me stronger than ever. That was a setback I needed to come back better in mindset, body, and heart in dance.
What motivates you to continue pursuing it?
Dancing just simply makes my soul happy. I feel like one of the reasons that makes life worth living is Dance, so that’s why I keep on doing it.
What was the experience like competing in front of your home audience, and do you have any thoughts going into the international level of competition?
It’s always overwhelming to dance in front of people from my hometown who cheered for me. It makes me 10x better seeing them there. It would be an honor to dance on an international stage and show them how passionate I am about my dance style. I would be so proud to represent my fellow Filipinos and the whole dance community.
Instagram: @ladyhax_
How would you describe your dancing style?
My dance style is KRUMP, which is raw and unfiltered. I dance wearing my heart on my sleeve. My body moves the way it wants to move, as I feel free when I dance. It’s strong, intense, and full of power.
What makes it unique?
[KRUMP] is one of the dance styles that needs so much power, intensity, and control, yet it contains many emotions and feelings.
How has the Filipino dance/hip-hop community evolved throughout the years?
The dance community has been so much better. We are having more opportunities than before. Some of the government supports us now, and there are a lot of platforms giving us a safe space to showcase our passion, just like Red Bull.
