The world’s biggest street dance competition, Red Bull Dance Your Style, has crowned South Africa’s best street dancer.
Mzansi has voted and Shannon “Shanny J” Kivido from Boksburg, Johannesburg, will represent the country at the second Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final, taking place in December.
The much-anticipated national final dance battles took place on Saturday night at the monumental Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town where Shanny J went toe to toe with Lee Shane before she won this prestigious accolade.
In each round the hosts amped the audience to vote by either choosing the red or the blue sided card to select the winner.
The brutal semifinals saw the 2018 winner of Dance Your Style and the first South African dancer to be on the limited edition Red Bull can, Tebza Diphehlo, take on Shanny J.
2019 national winner Lee Shane battled it out with Durban regional winner Verb in the semi-final round.
“I am in disbelief and excited to be heading to the World Final; this is where the training will get tougher and intense,” said an exhausted but exhilarated Shanny J after the competition.
“I take the opportunity to train every day, in preparation for the national final, I took time off to let my body recover to make sure I perform at my best.
“In the waacking and voguing community, it is the norm to put on a big performance – we change outfits constantly, we present a new character and embody different styles and feelings to bring the music to life. I am glad I had the opportunity to showcase those elements throughout the final rounds.
“I was very present and lived in the moment of every round; that for me was amazing about the final,” added the winner of Red Bull Dance Your Style, South Africa.
The Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final will take place on Saturday, 4 December, at Montecasino in Johannesburg.
nomzamo.yuku@inl.co.za