SA: Sandile Zulu wins Red Bull Dance Your Style title

17 Oct 2022 - 12:21

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Sandile ‘Sand1’ Zulu was crowned the winner of the Red Bull Dance Your Style national competition held at 012 Central in Pretoria, South Africa, on 15 October.

Sandile ‘Sand1’ Zulu the winner of the 2022 Red Bull Dance Your Style national competition.

He will join 2021 Red Bull Dance Your Style winner Shanny J as well as wildcard entrants sbujwa extraordinaire SB and krumping crusher Verb at the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final at Montecasino in Johannesburg on 10 December where they will compete against over 30 international dancers for the ultimate world title.

“I still cannot believe that I won,” Sand1 said. “I only found out that I will be taking part in the competition 24 hours ago, and thought to myself that I will just come and enjoy myself. I don’t think any of the other dancers understood my style, but I understood theirs, which I used to my advantage.

“I cannot wait for the world finals so I can show the world what South Africa has to offer. Our dance styles are unique and we have a great way of playing with our facial expressions, and I want the world to see that.”

The event was hosted by local choreographer and dancer Bontle Moloi and the Red Bull Dance Your Style resident MC Elly the Entertainer. It featured performances from leading talent including Nasty C, DBN Gogo, Blxckie, 25k, Banques, Glen Lewis, Trancemicsoul, and Que DJ.

Sand1 was only confirmed 24 hours before the competition after another participant pulled out but the Johannesburg South native would go on to knock out his opponents at every round to set up a thrilling final against Pretoria-based Angel Maputla.

According to the organisers, the challenging element of the competition is the unpredictable music that the DJ spins.

“The music can be unrelated to the dance style of the dancer, but the mission is to impress the crowd while you rock the best moves to the chosen beat. It’s safe to say that DJ Tha Cutt didn’t hold back with the selected range of music he played as the top 16 dancers, consisting of regional winners, wildcards, and those who entered online grabbed their final chance to vie for the ultimate title of being named Mzansi’s best street dancer.”

Tickets to the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final can be purchased here.

South Africa