Southeast Asian hip-hop culture is spotlighted in the national qualifiers of Redefining Elements: A Hip-Hop Pageant, a competition that aims to reformulate the approach to the popular genre in terms of talent, knowledge, technique and engagement in the society.
A collaborative platform built by the academic and hip-hop communities, the friendly showdown investigates the diverse effects of the discipline on the youth, both locally and in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
The participants were meticulously selected by a roster of industry experts comprised of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Dance Program Chairperson Nina Anonas, ACBE, principal dancer of Manila Metropolis Ballet and the Jungee Ballett Compagnie Frankfurt and featured international artist at Ballett Frankfurt.
Joining her on the team is Benilde Experimental Dance Artistic Director Christine Crame, who was the highly acclaimed principal dancer and former associate director of Ballet Philippines, the country’s prestigious classical ballet institution and dance company.
Completing the list is Project Head and Director for External Affairs Coach Mycs Villoso. An artistic director, choreographer and educator, Villoso was the proponent of the 2016 and 2017 Hip-Hop Dance Convention, which served as a large venue for Filipino movers nationwide to share their talents with their contemporaries.
The finalists will be judged by a panel of esteemed artists, to include Original Flavor Crew Founder and Beyond Passion Entertainment International, Inc. Creative Officer Ian Villanueva; Shady Gang Founder and Director, One Up CDO Founding Member and Choreographer, and Boombap Philippines Core Member Oriel “O-Shady” Aclo; and Philippine Allstars Artistic Director, Stellar and Street Queens Founder and Team X Member Lema Diaz.
Hosted by Benilde Experimental Dance and the Dance Program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts, the champion will represent the country in the international competition.
Redefining Elements: A Hip-Hop Pageant will go live via Zoom and Facebook on Saturday, July 24, 2021 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Audience may secure their tickets for P100, which allows them to vote for their favorite dancers and help them win a special prize. Register at https://tinyurl.com/bk3h7bu5.
