Top 10 viral moments so far

German krumper and actor Vehbi, aka Jr. Game, had the 2,000-strong crowd in the palm of his hand with a powerful round to River Flows In You by South Korean pianist Yiruma. He pushed krump’s expression to new limits, flipping the genre’s raw aggression into something fresh and melodic. He fused razor-sharp, lightning-fast movements with others that rippled and flowed like water. Emotion in motion, Vehbi moved many to tears as he bravely poured everything onto the floor, telling his awe-inspiring story through chest isolations that mimicked his heartbeat, deep extensions that made him one with the music, all while articulating a story of loss through his dance.

Rylee didn’t just turn up – she ate the competition and left no crumbs. The Philly voguer and mother of the local chapter of the Iconic House of Prodigy brought ballroom to the battle. She served 10s across the board in jet-black patent high-heeled boots and a fluffy baby-pink feather boa. She owned the metallic hip-hop beat of Like by JENNIE with a maelstrom of death drops, electrifying hair whips, and floor-slamming splits. She wove together intricate arm work, multiple elements from other styles and contortionist patterns that twisted like a labyrinth. An unforgettable performance that had the crowd gagging.

Dressed to impress in a black suit, bow tie, fedora, red pocket square and pencil-thin mustache, Swedish locker and self-styled ‘Funk Sinatra’ set the stage ablaze. Bursting with wild creativity, playful character and maximum musicality, he turned up the heat and pushed classic locking to new heights. Arvidos proved he can do his thing to any musical genre by performing to the Afrobeat banger Shake Body by Skales. He blended his signature moves with a modern twist, like pelvic thrusts pounding the floor, staccato isolations and a show-stopping flair that captivated the crowd.

The hype from the crowd was electric the second Houston hip-hop dancer Kiilo hit the floor. With two decades of experience under his belt and a style he describes as free-flowing, expressive and saucy, Kiilo set the packed house on fire, battling to Pony by Ginuwine. He spiced his round with cheeky nods to Channing Tatum’s pulse-racing routine in Magic Mike, all while flexing his skillset and musical dexterity by dropping a breaking pose right on the lyric, ‘When I break you off.’

Cameroon-born, German-based dancer Mady once again brought the Afro-flavor to Red Bull Dance Your Style. Her powerful blend of traditional African rhythms and Afrobeat shook the earth and showed why she belongs on the big stage. She fused rhythmic foot-stomping and winding hip movements to Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina and Doechii’s Nissan Ultima, sending the crowd into a roaring frenzy.

Egyptian director, choreographer and all-styles dancer Zouba flexed her bold confidence and musicality to the max from the moment the beat dropped. Feeling the track 100 percent, Zouba locked into the bass and every word of Marwan Pablo and Abyusif’s Karma, swerving from popping and freezes to dynamic footwork on the lyrics “Beep beep, you’re being stepped on. I’m not tired,” followed by gravity-defying backbends and fluid contemporary movement. No doubt making the collectives she founded – Hunters Crew and the powerhouse, all-female Chimera Squad – very proud.

All limits were off, including the stage boundaries – for Pennsylvania showman Jared ‘Shogun’ Brennan, aka prolific hip-hop freestyler Arsenal. He stretched his imagination and turned the atmosphere into a full-blown party with a high-octane round while battling to I Write Sins Not Tragedies by Panic! At The Disco. Starting out by weaving through and working the crowd with 360 spins before jumping back to centre stage with his self-proclaimed ‘ADHD-influenced style’ blending in hip-hop, breaking, popping and krump at centre stage.