A dance contest like no other, the Red Bull Dance Your Style competition brings together streetwise swag and epic dance battles, culminating in the national finals that played out at the Globe Theatre at Suncoast Casino at the weekend.
In this unique event, dancers who perform different styles came together to compete for the national crown and a shot at representing South Africa at the World Dance Your Style championships, in Frankfurt, Germany, in November.
After the long-awaited final stage in the national dance competition between all the dancers from the different provinces in the country, a young dancer from Durban, Senzosenkosi Bhengu, known as “Verb”, walked away with this year’s championship title and will now represent the nation at the global showdown in Germany.
Saturday’s finals brought together the best of the best from across the country to battle for dance supremacy.
Besides all the regional winners – Kabelo Matlou (Pretoria), Benny Matlamela (Polokwane), Joseph Moshobane (Johannesburg), Rushay Prins (Gqeberha), Yolanda Jola (Durban), Luthando Baduza (Cape Town) and Luyanda Mkhonjwa (Bloemfontein) – the competition included Wild Cards, a dynamic group of dancers who have earned a place in the national final through exceptional skills and unique flair.
Ultimate winner Verb, a contestant in last year’s edition, 2018 champion Teboho Diphehlo, from Johannesburg, and Cape Town’s Zoe Aldridge were given their hot tickets and the opportunity to prove their dance supremacy.
With his unconventional dance moves, Verb has earned himself a place among the best dancers in the world. However, his journey towards that number one spot has been a long and winding road, one that will not be easily forgotten.
He took part in this competition five times and is one of the best performers in the hip-hop dance style known as krumping in this country.
After being placed as the best in everything related to dance, Verb was able to show his skills at the national stage and he showed that nothing can stop him from taking over the world.
“To compete at home in the city where I grew up and to go to this stage to compete with other dancers from around the world, I feel really happy. I want to grow where I am now. I am looking forward to representing this country and seeing other dancers from different countries. My confidence has changed a lot and I have no doubt that I will bring home the medal,” said Verb.
