Filipino Street Dancer Takes the Global Stage at Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals in LA

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – After a hard-fought win at the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finals last May, Cebuana street dancer Sam Rivera known in battles as ‘Nemesis’, is set to represent the Philippines, showcasing Filipino flair, rhythm, and freestyle creativity at the Red Bull Dance Your Style 2025 World Finals happening on October 11 to 12 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California.

The World Stage Awaits

After months of high-energy dance battles across the globe, the world’s best dancers are converging in Los Angeles for the ultimate one-on-one freestyle showdown. Champions from over 50 countries will bring their unique moves, cultural influences, and raw improvisation skills, creating a competition that’s as unpredictable as it is exciting.

The Philippines’ very own Nemesis is more than ready to face off the top dancers from all over the world, proving Filipinos have what it takes to take on the biggest international stage for street dance.

Training for the Battle

After competing as a Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finalist in 2024, Nemesis returned this year stronger than ever, securing the crown at the 2025 National Finals in her hometown Cebu. Since that milestone win, Nemesis has been getting ready, refining her Krump freestyle, endurance, and stage presence to prepare for the world spotlight.

“This year I’m really in it to win, but I also remind myself to have fun on stage when I’m dancing. Just vibe with the music and trust my body’s instincts,” said Nemesis. “I’m the type of freestyle dancer that doesn’t prepare for sets, I just need to condition my body, relying on muscle-memory, as well as drills, also concepts and ideas to generate movements from there.” 

The Filipino finalist also shared how mindset is just as important as physical training: “Readying myself mentally and emotionally for the pressure, because LA is where the best dancers are. But I take it as an opportunity to learn from them.” 

On Nemesis' approach for the World Final, she shared, “My goal is still to just give a good performance. So others will see that ‘Wow! This is what dancers in the Philippines are like!’ It depends on the crowd, but as long as you give a good performance, other people will see that you’re amazing.”

Countdown to the Finals in LA

The Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals will bring together the best of the global street dance scene during the World Finals Week, running from October 7 to 11. The main World Finals competition takes place on October 11 at the Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, where dancers will go head-to-head in freestyle battles, with the twist that the crowd decides who moves forward. Catch the action live on Red bull TV on October 11 at 9 PM (PDT) / October 12 at 12 PM (Philippine time).

With global champions, rising stars, and local heroes in the mix, the competition promises to be an explosive display of creativity and artistry. Only one dancer will walk away as the 2025 Red Bull Dance Your Style World Champion.

Cheer On Nemesis’ World Finals Journey

On October 7 to 11 show your support for Nemesis as she represents the Philippines on the world stage in Los Angeles. Follow Red Bull PH and Red Bull Dance on social media for the latest updates.

For more information and updates, visit the official Red Bull website and the following social media pages (Facebook | Instagram | Tiktok )

Red Bull Dance Your Style National Winner “JXYB” Takes the Philippines to Germany

Manila, Philippines - Excitement builds as the clock ticks down to the most awaited dance competition of the year. In a celebration of creativity, individuality, and the rich genres of dance, the Philippines is gearing up to take over the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals in Frankfurt, Germany. Set to take place on November 4, this event will feature dancers from all over the world battling it out on the international stage.

After securing his win at the National Finals in Manila, Louries “JXYB” Dhztine Bernardino will be representing the country in the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals. His unique style and technique shined through fifteen other dancers who came from all different provinces across the Philippines – Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and Baguio to name a few. The variety of provinces brought a mix of cultures and identities onto the stage, but in the end, “JXYB”’s unique style stood out and won them the crown. With the World Finals now approaching, “JXYB” is ready to bring his A-game to the international dance floor.

“I plan to maintain using Krumping as my style, but I really think I have a lot more to enhance when it comes to crowd-pleasing and crowd interactions. There’s a lot I’m working on to improve but luckily, I come from the Philippine dance community, which is very competitive. We are very advanced in freestyle battle here so that is a big advantage, but at the same time that puts a lot of pressure on me,” “JXYB” said.

The Philippines’ representative believes this competition will be the hardest one-on-one battle he’s faced so far, but still remains optimistic that his skill, talent, and determination will take him far.

“I’ll stay true to myself and my style, and I’ll bring a lot of prayer into this. I know that God will have my back, and we’ll get this win in Jesus' name,” he said.

Louries “JXYB” Dhztine Bernardino will be competing against over 30 dancers from all over the world, each with his own style, flair, and personality. While the competition will be nothing short of fierce, “JXYB” remains hopeful they can properly showcase Filipino talent for the world to see.

The Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals is set to take place in Frankfurt, Germany on November 4, 2023, and will be streamed live on Red Bull’s Dance Your Style TikTok and YouTube account (@redbulldance) at 9PM CET.

The Show Must go on for Ballet Manila

An unwavering passion for dancing is what's keeping Ballet Manila, the most solidly trained classical ballet company in the Philippines, resilient and strong after the Star City complex, which housed both Aliw and Star Theaters, recently was razed by fire.

Ballet Manila was all set to stage a breathtaking performance of Giselle as part of its 24th season when Aliw Theater, the original venue of the show and the dance company's home for nearly 20 years, was damaged in the fire.

With the theme park and theaters gutted by fire, many thought that it was the end for the company's 24th season, but Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde said that they will dance, no matter what.

Macuja Elizalde has expressed her gratitude to the overwhelming outpouring of support and assistance to Ballet Manila. She said that the help Ballet Manila got from the performing arts community enabled them to stage Giselle in a different venue and date.

Ballet Manila's production of Giselle will now be at the CCP Main Theater on October 17, Thursday at 8:00 PM. Tickets for the original dates will be honored, and refunds are also available for those who cannot make it to the new play date.

Despite what happened, the dance company assures that Giselle will still be as sensational as they have originally planned. Fans will still get to witness the timeless tale that has all the melodramatic elements of first love, heartbreak, death, and love beyond death.

To create the perfect atmosphere and intensify the emotional impact, Giselle will have live music accompaniment from the Manila Symphony Orchestra, one of Asia’s first symphony orchestras. The orchestra will be conducted by Alexander Vikulov who has been the music director of Ballet Manila for many years. Vikulov is also a conductor at the Mariinsky Theater of Russia and has appeared at prominent opera houses including the Wiener Staatsoper in Austria and the Teatro Regio di Torino in Italy.
Ballet Manila is one of the pillars of Philippine Ballet. You can show your support by buying tickets to Giselle by visiting any Ticketworld outlet, calling 8891 9999, or going to www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more information, visit https://balletmanila.com.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/BalletManilaOfficial/.

“Ballet Manila Embarks on an Enchanting Journey with “Snow White

For the first show of its 24th performance season, Ballet Manila highlights nostalgia, romance, enchantment, and sophisticated rhythmic movements with its breathtaking production of Snow White which will be restaged on September 7 and 8, 2019.
An all original choreography from Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director, Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Snow White, first performed in 2017, is the second installment in her Princess Trilogy.

With the theme being a play on the term “on point,” it is only fitting for the ballet company’s upcoming performance of Snow White as it showcases Ballet Manila’s standard of excellence and perfection.

Unlike the other installments of the Princess Trilogy (Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty), Macuja Elizalde said that Snow White has no existing ballet performance which is why she has decided to create an entirely new take on it for their 22nd performance season.“I chose Snow White to be the second ballet because it has never been done before. It was something completely new that I wanted to do,” she said.

From the music and choreography, to the costume and sets, Macuja Elizalde was hands-on to perfect her masterpiece and give the viewers a new interpretation of the classic fairy tale. She said, “For me, as a choreographer, the most important thing is the music, and that was the problem with creating Snow White -- it has no preexisting musical score. What I did was I listened to a lot of music and the first thing I heard was the music during the chasing scene between the dwarves and the evil witch. That was from Jules Massenet. So I decided to use a collection of suites by Massenet for the rest of the ballet.”

Aside from the music of Massanet, viewers will also get a dose of nostalgia as it features melodies from the Disney animated film, while the overall look took inspiration from the story based on Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.

“I was very inspired by my cast of dancers and my prospective audience of children. I always try to choreograph with the audience in mind. Wanting to create a ballet that they would want to come back to again and again because of all the good feelings the performance evokes,” she added.

Aside from Snow White, Ballet Manila has more thrilling shows lined up for the rest of the 24th season including Giselle, a romantic ballet in two acts; Sleeping Beauty, the last installment in the Princess Trilogy; and Carmina Burana and La Traviata, a collaboration of opera, ballet, and live orchestra music.

Take delight in the mesmerizing and graceful dancing of Snow White which will run on September 7, 2019 at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and on September 8, 2019 at 3:00 PM. Shows on both days will be at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City, Manila.

To buy tickets, visit any Ticketworld outlet, call 891 9999, or go to their website www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more information, visit https://balletmanila.com.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/BalletManilaOfficial/.

Ballet Manila Launches "On Pointé" 24th Performance Season

Ballet Manila, the most solidly trained classical ballet company in the Philippines, has launched its 24th Performance Season with the theme "On Pointé" at S'Maison in Pasay City. During the launch, guests were given an impressive preview of the company's upcoming shows for the season, namely Snow White (September 7-8, 2019), Giselle (October 19-20, 2019), Sleeping Beauty (December 7-8, 2019), and Carmina Burana and La Traviata (February 29 and March 1, 2020). Shown on photo during the launch are Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde (third from the right) and co-artistic director Osias Barroso (third from left) with (L-R) Ballet Manila principal dancers Gerardo Francisco, Jasmine Pia Dames, Romeo Peralta, and Abigail Lynn Oliveiro.

All of Ballet Manila’s 24th performance season shows will be staged at the Aliw Theater, Pasay City. To buy tickets, visit any Ticketworld outlet, call 891 9999, or go to their website www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more information, visit https://balletmanila.com.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/BalletManilaOfficial/

It’s On Pointé for Ballet Manila’s 24th Performance Season

Ballet Manila, the most solidly trained classical ballet company in the Philippines, will once again stage a series of breathtaking shows filled with graceful dancing for its 24th season.

With the theme "On Pointé," Ballet Manila highlights the most iconic element in a ballet performance – the pointé shoes which make a ballerina stand and dance daintily on her toes. The theme is also fitting for the ballet company’s upcoming performances as it is also a play on being “on point” which defines something to be excellent and perfect – the kind of shows that Ballet Manila consistently gives to their audience.

According to Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde, the decision to go with the theme is related to Ballet Manila’s Russian Vaganova style of training and dancing. "It defines what classical ballet is – being able to dance on pointé," Macuja Elizalde said.

This season, Ballet Manila will be staging a thoughtfully curated line up of four shows. The first one is the restaging of Snow White, the second installment in Macuja Elizalde's Princess Trilogy, which will run from September 7-8, 2019. Giselle, a romantic ballet in two acts, will follow on October 19-20, 2019. Sleeping Beauty, the last installment in the Princess Trilogy, will have its world premiere on December 7-8, 2019. Lastly, the season’s finale will be Carmina Burana and La Traviata, a collaboration of opera, ballet, and orchestra, which will be staged on February 29 and March 1, 2020.

“When I plan a season, I first program the full-length classical ballet that we need to present every year. My teacher and mentor Tatiana Udalenkova told me that I should always have a classical warhorse every season to strengthen the company," Macuja Elizalde spoke of their decision to perform Giselle.

She also wanted to revisit the earlier installment of her Princess Trilogy and present Snow White before the premiere of The Sleeping Beauty, which will be the company’s Christmas production, to factor in continuity.

"I love the fact that we are opening our 24th season with Snow White because it captures the fun everyone needs to have when watching and dancing ballet," she said.

After the first two installments of the trilogy, Macuja Elizalde said that the best is yet to come with the final production. "I am saving the best for last. The Princess Trilogy is going to conclude with a bang!" she said.
Talking about the last show, Carmina Burana and La Traviata, Macuja Elizalde said that the back-to-back presentation is a fitting finale to their 24th season.

"I have always wanted to choreograph to the music of my favorite opera – La Traviata – and am excited to collaborate with my long time “partner in crime”, Ballet Manila co-artistic director Osias Barroso. Rudy De Dios, recently retired principal dancer of the company, will be making an auspicious choreographic debut in his first full-length evening work with Carmina Burana," she said.
With the start of the 24th season just around the corner, Ballet Manila is all set to once again capture the hearts of their audiences and showcase a production that reflects their refined techniques, dignified artistry, magnificent storytelling, and genuine passion for dancing.
All of Ballet Manila’s 24th performance season shows will be staged at the Aliw Theater, Pasay City. To buy tickets, visit any Ticketworld outlet, call 891 9999, or go to their website www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more information, visit https://balletmanila.com.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/BalletManilaOfficial/.

AC BONIFACIO RELEASES “SLIDE INTO MY DM” - AN ODE TO MODERN DAY ROMANCE

The long wait is over! Dance sweetheart and popular multimedia personality AC Bonifaciowill be releasing her next single and music video this July 5, 2019.

These days one can find love by just a couple of taps on their phone. Hitting someone’s online inbox up, or more commonly known as “sliding into one’s direct messages (DMs),” is the new way of introducing yourself to someone and potentially starting a romantic relationship. The millennials do it; the Gen-Zs do it. This century’s love stories require a good internet connection.

This is what sings about in her upcoming single, Slide Into My DM. With its upbeat melody and lyrics that every social media enthusiast can relate to, the song is set to be the newest bop anthem to blast through everyone’s speakers.

AC Bonifacio is known for being the first-ever Grand Champion of ABS-CBN’s Dance Kids alongside Lucky Ancheta in 2016, as well as placing third in Your Face Sounds Familiar in 2017. She has also been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres show and in Ariana Grande’s concert in Vancouver. AC was also recently part of the reality talent show “World of Dance Philippines” as a co-host for World of Dance Online. AC also won as MYX Celebrity VJ at the 2019 MYX Music Awards.

AC has also previously released “Sumayaw, Sumaya” and “In And Out” (with viral sensation LAVAADO), both under Ivory Music & Video.

“Slide Into My DM” by AC Bonifacio will be available in all digital music stores on July 5, 2019.

KNOW MORE ABOUT AC BONIFACIO THROUGH THESE LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/andreeacbonifacio/

https://www.instagram.com/acbonifacio

https://twitter.com/BonifacioAc

Ballet Manila Closes 23rd Performance Season with DEUX

After a spectacular 23rd performance season, Ballet Manila is set to close its curtains with Deux, a double header that gracefully combines classical and contemporary ballet. The show will be held at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex on March 2 and 9 at 6PM and March 3 and 10 at 3PM.

The first chapter of the show will open with classical vignettes. It will highlight “Les Sylphides,” also known as “Chopiniana” in Russia, a romantic dreamy white ballet that depicts a lone danseur (The Poet) surrounded by his muses – white-clad sylphs or air spirits, dancing in the moonlight. While there is no plot, its lingering music by Frederic Chopin and lyrical choreography by Michael Fokine evoke the illusion of ethereal weightlessness which characterized the romantic era of ballet where technique is the focal point, especially the intricate pointe work of ballerinas.

From this dreamy ambiance, the audience will be transported to the second chapter filled with contemporary numbers, and exhilarating rock and roll beats in the world premiere of Martin Lawrance’s The Winding Road set to the legendary music of The Beatles. The young or old will surely connect to the music and lyrics of I Saw Her Standing There, Here, There and Everywhere, Something, The Long and Winding Road, She Loves You, and many more!

“It has been a very exciting and rewarding 23rd season for Ballet Manila. It kicked-off with electrifying productions that formed part of our “Tour de Force” and now we’re poised to close it with Deux,” says Ballet Manila CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. “We thank our audiences for their continued patronage and support and we hope to see you all again when the curtains rise for our 24thseason.”

Don’t miss this newest and most special double header! For tickets, visit www.bit.ly/balletmaniladeux.

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Ballet Manila is The Philippines’ Premiere Classical Dance Company. Under the leadership of Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Ballet Manila has brought the magic of classical ballet to the farthest-flung regions of the country, as well as the important ballet capitals of the world. Ballet Manila also continuously innovates to provide its audience, clients, and business partners with a myriad of shows and performance options.

#SwitchItUpChallenge Creator LAVAADO Teams Up with AC Bonifacio for Upcoming Sure Fire Hit

Taking the world by storm last year, Georgia-based artist Lavaado’s viral single Switch It Uphas amassed more than 4 million streams on Spotify, with the music video having more than 7 million views on YouTube. Celebrities and content creators all over the world took to social media to join the #SwitchItUpChallenge with moves from Lavaado’s music video.

For his much-awaited follow up, Lavaado is teaming up with the Philippines’ very own AC Bonifacio, just fresh from very succesful first solo concert and 16^th birthday celebration – AC All About It at SM North EDSA Skydome last December. Lavaado reached out to AC about a collaboration during the Christmas holidays, and they worked out recording while AC was on vacation with her family in Canada.

In and Out – Lavaado’s newest track featuring AC Bonifacio comes out on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, and all digital stores worldwide this coming February 8, 2019. Lavaado has been featured in ABS-CBN’s Rated K, and will be performing live in GMA’s Eat Bulaga! this coming February 23.

In and Out is distributed worldwide by Ivory Music & Video, and published under Another Frequency Productions from Chicago, Illinois.

CHECK OUT AC BONIFACIO THROUGH THESE LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/andreeacbonifacio/

https://www.instagram.com/acbonifacio/

https://twitter.com/BonifacioAc

https://www.youtube.com/andreebonifacio

CHECK OUT LAVAADO THROUGH THESE LINKS:

https://www.instagram.com/lavaado/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZzNVYZ_MU-q_Dv5BG1-xqg

FOR MORE UPDATES, FOLLOW IVORY MUSIC & VIDEO:

https://www.facebook.com/IvoryMusicPH/

https://www.instagram.com/ivorymusicph

https://twitter.com/ivorymusicph

https://youtube.com/ivorymusicph

AC Bonifacio is All About It!

AC Bonifacio took retro to a whole new level as she celebrated her 16th birthday in her first solo concert “AC All About It”at SM North EDSA Skydome last December 14, 2018.

Over a thousand excited fans flocked to see AC showcase her multiple talents onstage. Apart from performing her hit singles “Sumayaw, Sumaya” and “Touch and Move,” she also lent her killer moves and vocals toremarkable hits from Michael Jackson, Sarah Geronimo, Queen, and Rihanna.

To give the audience a chance to recover from the adrenaline of AC’s head bopping hits and powerful dance numbers, she also swooned the audience with iconic OPM songs “’Di Na Muli” and “’Kung ‘Di Rin Lang Ikaw,” that left the audience swaying through her smooth vocals.

Just when the fans thought the night couldn’t get any better, the fast-rising 16-year-old singer and dancer brought with her the best fresh artists to serenade the crowd. AC’s friends Janah Zaplan, Jeremy Glinoga, Ken San Jose, and Ryle Santiago also graced the stage

With AC All About It being the dance marvel’s very first solo concert, AC couldn’t express how thankful she is for the chance to perform her best in front of a crowd she adores. With a happy heart, AC expressed how huge of an opportunity was given to her, and she wanted nothing more than to make the people who believed in her proud.

Aside from the concert, she said she will always cherish the hard work of everyone behind the production. “I think my favorite part aside from performing for my fans was the preparation we did. Everyone worked as a team to help everything run smoothly. I owe everything to them as well,” she said.

Above everything, AC expressed she wouldn’t be where she is now without her lovely fans. When asked for a message, she said “Thank you for your unconditional love and genuine support! I pretty much said everything sa show, but I love you guys always! You keep me going.”

Catch AC Bonifacio in ABS-CBN’s Playhouse every Monday to Friday before It’s Showtime, and make sure to watch out for her next single in 2019.

AC All About It is presented by Ivory Music & Video in partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. and World Balance, Inc.; in cooperation with Megasoft, Inc. and Top-O Oxygen Supplement. Special thanks to the following: Voices Studio Co., Legit Status, GAOC, Fernando’s Bakeshop, Skin Buffet, and Jollibee; as well as media partners MYX and Pinas FM 99.5.

Stream and download AC Bonifacio's Sumayaw, Sumaya on Spotify and other music stores: bit.ly/SumayawSumayaACBonifacio

AC Bonifacio Live at SM North EDSA Skydome

In celebration of their love and support, Dance Sweetheart AC Bonifacio will be celebrating her 16th birthday with her fans this coming December 14, 2018, at the SM North EDSA Skydome.

AC will be showcasing her multiple talents on-stage in her first-ever solo concert entitled AC All About It. AC’s close friends Jeremy Glinoga – The Voice Teens runner up, and Ken San Jose – Fil-Am singer and hip-hop dancer, will be joining her on this special night. Opening the night are Ivory Music’s rising artists – singer-songwriter-producer Zack Tabudlo and Millenial Pop Princess Janah Zaplan. More surprise guests will be announced soon.

AC Bonifacio is known for being the first-ever Grand Champion of ABS-CBN's Dance Kids alongside Lucky Ancheta in 2016, as well as placing third in Your Face Sounds Familiar in 2017. She has also been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres show and in Ariana Grande's concert in Vancouver.

Last May 2018, AC launched her first single entitled Sumayaw, Sumaya under Ivory Music & Video. Since then, she has done various singing engagements, including the single Touch & Move for Gary Valenciano’s collaborative project with Unicef – Awit at Laro, a music album and songbook that celebrates the spirit of play. She is also currently growing her acting career, debuting in Wansapanataym and now part of the cast of ABS-CBN's drama series Playhouse.

AC All About It is presented by Ivory Music & Video, in partnership with Smart and World Balance; in cooperation with Sisters and Top-O Oxygen Supplement. Official Media Partners include MYX and Pinas FM 95.5. Tickets are available via all SM TICKETS outlets.

Stream and download AC Bonifacio's Sumayaw, Sumaya on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, and other music stores: bit.ly/SumayawSumayaACBonifacio.