Red Bull Dance Your Style, the biggest urban street dance competition in the world, is back in Kenya for its fifth edition.
The dance competition will take place in different regions around Kenya to find the best dancers who will battle to become Kenya’s ultimate champ.
The dance battle will pass through two universities and different Kenyan cities, starting with Eldoret (13 April), Kisumu, Mombasa and back to Nairobi (29 June), after which the National Finals will be held on 13 July.
Red Bull Dance Your Style is a unique competition, with no judges. The crowd decides who wins by voting for their favourite dancers.
The dancers’ creativity, freestyle, and musical skills are put to the test in front of a live audience.
All urban dance styles are welcome except for break dancing– the only rule you can’t break.
The DJ plays unpredictable music, and the dancers will have to adapt, dance their style and impress the crowd. After each battle, spectators hold up blue or red placards to choose a winner.
International Red Bull dancer and world champion Stalamuerte from Switzerland, celebrated globally for his signature hip-hop dance moves, was in Kenya over the past weekend at the official launch of Red Bull Dance Your Style 2024 edition.
Speaking after the event Stala said, “Africa is my favourite continent and I am thrilled to be here. Being my first time in Kenya– I’m feeling like an infant experiencing things for the first time. I’m taking in every moment.”
Stalamuerte met Kenya’s dance community and interacted with them through a panel discussion and a Q&A session that was hosted by Kenyan media personality Azeezah Hashim.
He later gave an interactive dance workshop that was joined by a host of dancers and groups including Art In Motion.
Among the things he tackled at a dance workshop was fundamentals of winning Red Bull Dance Your Style, musicality, vibing with the crowd and adaptability to unpredictable music and times like social media influence.
He said, “My advice to Kenyan dancers is to master confidence and trust their art. Keep doing your thing and don’t care about other people’s opinions.
“If you are passionate about what you do, that’s all that matters.”
Also in attendance was Fabius Oduor–Kenya’s Red Bull Dance Your Style 2023 Champ, who also took to the stage for a freestyle dance, as this year’s lead DJ Sir M dropped multiple mixes.
Fabius Oduor said, “Becoming the reigning champ was a mind-blowing experience and a dream come true, that I’d wish for every other Kenyan dancer,” adding, “Stronger than ever, I am back and participating in this year’s competition.
“I am looking forward to displaying my growth as a dancer and how the new experience unfolds for me.”
Red Bull Kenya continues to support the international mixed-style dance competition to support dance talent in Kenya and upskill local dance communities while exposing them to different levels of dance on a global stage.
The ultimate champ at the national finals will win an app-paid trip to represent Kenya in Mumbai, India for the world finals on 9 November.
KEY EVENT DATE QUALIFIERS:
Eldoret 13 April
Kisumu 27 April
Kenyatta University 11 May
Mombasa 25 May
USIU 15 June
Nairobi 29 June
National Finals 13 July.
To join the competition, sign up for your preferred qualifier. You must be 18+.
