The stage was set for 12 soloists and 9 groups to fight it out at CODE:EDGE 2 Dance Battle. Held at Zouk on October 18, CODE:EDGE 2 Dance Battle saw an impressive display of street dance, skills and technique with the winners emerging to represent Singapore in an overseas international dance showcase, Urbanite 2009.
CODE:EDGE 2 is Studio Wu's initiative to increase the standard of dance in Singapore through a week-long street dance festival that features workshops by overseas instructors and a dance compeition. The winners of the dance competition also took home $3500 in the group category and $1200 in the solo category.
Two cousins, Trinity Lim and Sylvin Goo, who made up Soul'what came out as the judges favorite to take home the cash prize. Winning CODE:EDGE 2 translates into their dream of furthering dance in Japan. The success is even sweeter for the duo to prove that numbers or the lack may not necessarily be a disadvantage in a group competition. The two were a part of a five-girl team, LaFuse, who the Group category last year.
Another hot favorite, Kelvin Low, trounced the competition to win the Solo Category. Kelvin impressed the audience with his surprise headstand freeze that blew everyone away. In the battle round Kelvin showed intense musicality and wit to answer and respond every moves thrown by his opponents. Willy came up as the Solo Category Runner-up.
Groups Freesize-ly and Elecoldxhot took the first runners-up and second runners-up respectively.
Patrick Chen, one of the judges, was impressed with the increase in the standard of the competition, “Definitely better than last year's.”
The judging panel was made up overseas instructors who were here to conduct workshops during the week. Judges, Wild Cherry, JP San Pedro, Mariel Martin, Meredith Kerr and Patrick also performed that night to treat the audience and contestants to a feast of dance styles.
“It was unbelievable to watch these people upfront and close. This is Youtube come alive!” enthused Samuel Lee, 23, who was in the audience lapping the action all up.
Studio Wu will work towards making CODE:EDGE an annual feature in the local dance scene. Carol Cheong, co-director of Studio Wu, hope to see dancers coming up with new styles and re-invent themselves and generally increase the standard. “With the second CODE:EDGE being a success, we will definitely see you at CODE:EDGE 3.”
Results
Solo Champion – Kelvin Low
Solo Runner-up – Willy
Group Champion – Soul'what
Group 1st Runner-Up – Freesize-ly
Group 2nd Runner Up – Elecoldxhot
Total participants for CODE:EDGE 2
Dance workshops – 200
CODE:EDGE 2 Finas at Zouk – 800
CODE:EDGE 2 Heats at NLB – 300 (est)
Click here to view the photos taken during CODE:EDGE 2!