Monday, September 29, 2025
Filipino Street Dancer Takes the Global Stage at Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals in LA
Monday, September 15, 2025
Hotel Sogo Launches ₱100K Dance Showdown for Filipino Crews
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
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.
Friday, September 8, 2023
Representing the Philippines on the Global Dance Floor: National Winner, JXYB Heads to Red Bull Dance Your Style World Championship
Manila, Philippines | In a collision of genres, cultures, and personal flair, the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finals concluded last September 2 at 5th Ave. Bonifacio High Street, where the 8 finalists from the Cebu and Manila qualifiers competed against 8 wildcards in an electrifying mix featuring unique styles and techniques.
Red Bull Dance Your Style is a unique competition showcasing creativity, individuality, and exploration of the different dance genres. Unlike traditional competitions, Red Bull Dance Your Style stands out as a unique 1v1 showdown with the only judge being the crowd itself. The crowd decides who gets to move further in each round, and ultimately determines the champion. This, coupled with unpredictable music, mastery, and dance prowess, makes Red Bull Dance Your Style competition a unique experience, with every performance consistently keeping both the audience and dancers captivated and engaged.
Half of the Top 16 hailed from the Cebu and Manila qualifiers, which took place last July 15 and July 22, respectively. The other half were wildcard entries with different backgrounds, performance styles, and accolades. Together, they battled it out on the stage for a chance to represent the Philippines on the world stage.
Each finalist gave it their all throughout the National Finals, but in the end, Louries Dhztine 'JXYB' Bernardino secured the title of champion. Having bested the competition with their signature Krumping technique and personality, JXYB is now on track to represent the Philippines in the World Finals.
“Red Bull Dance Your Style is really challenging. In a normal battle, you only have to please three judges but in Red Bull Dance Your Style you have hundreds, even thousands of people to please. So what I do is I just try to show my skills and at the same time enjoy it, and hope that I get to reach the crowd with that and they see my soul with my performance” said Louries Dhztine 'JXYB' Bernardino.
JXYB battled it out against the first-ever Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines Champion, Mickey Paolo Yatar in the semi-finals. The showdown elicited loud cheers for the then title holder and JXYB, shining the spotlight on the individual prowess of both dancers.
“Mickey has so much crowd control. He knows how to please an audience, and that’s something I look up at him for. Something I also want to develop for my future performances,” said JXYB.
JXYB also went against wildcards “Heidra” and “O-shady” who brought out a range of hip-hop and pop grooves, but the finale performance against fellow krumper Juan “BLVCKZIK” Carlo De Leon brought out the largest cheers in an adrenaline-pumping 1 on 1 where JXYB ran off stage and through the center crowd, catching every beat and transforming the energy and applause into a routine made to remember.
With the winner of the National Finals now secured, the spotlight shines even brighter on their journey as they prepare to represent the country on the global stage. The highly-anticipated Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals is set to take place in Frankfurt, Germany, in November 2023. Dancers representing different countries will come together to showcase their unique flair and celebrate different styles of dance.
Red Bull dance consultant Lema Diaz says Red Bull has partnered with the best of the Philippine dance community and is more than ready to train JXYB with the best local dancers in preparation for the World Finals.
“We work with the best of mainstream and underground dancers and we have the full support of Red Bull and of our partners for this journey. We also know that there are so many skilled dancers in the Philippines that can compete globally. We are local going global, and these people are not new to the world stage. They have been competing and carrying our flag around the world. There is no need to train abroad when the best is already here with us. Red Bull has given us a platform and I’m so thankful for them to have given wings to the Philippine dance community,” said Diaz.
For JXYB, the World Finals would not only mean endless training, but also collaboration with the Philippine dance community, and finding inspiration in his personal experience in the local dance battle and freestyle scene in the country.
“For the finals in Germany, I’ll look to the many inspiring people from the Philippine dance community. We are so advanced here in dancing that even as I have won Red Bull Dance Your Style, I know that I may still lose in other, maybe even smaller, battles locally. That’s how good our dancers are. That’s how advanced the Philippine dance community is when it comes to freestyle battling but that’s a big advantage for me - I come from a good community of dancers and I’ll be taking that experience to Germany,” JXYB said. “I plan to maintain my style and enjoy my dance more but I’ll for sure train every day and begin inserting new techniques I can use,” he added.
JXYB is set to represent the Philippines on the global stage this November in Germany. For updates and news regarding JXYB, Red Bull Dance Your Style, and upcoming Red Bull events, visit https://redbulldanceyourstyle.
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Wednesday, October 16, 2019
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/.
Friday, September 6, 2019
“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/.
Thursday, August 8, 2019
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/
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
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/.
Thursday, June 27, 2019
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.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
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.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
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.













