CODE:EDGE 3 – Bringing Asia to the forefront

Bringing Asia to the forefront

by Gerald K.

Photographs: The Event | Workshops | Behind The Scene

The only thing that was missing that night was Beyonce herself but five lads representing Singapore thrilled and teased the audience and judges with their all-Beyonce numbers to be crowned as the Group Champions, beating seven other crews in the Asian installation of CODE:EDGE 3 Dance Finals. Spice Boyz, made up of Andreas Primady Chua, Muhammad Syamsul Azri, Mohamed Hakim Eusope, Mohamad Mazlan Sulaiman and Gino Flordeliza Babagay produced a slick number that showcased their camp and passion for dance, drawing screams and catcalls from the audience.

They were up against Last Minute Street Crew from Indonesia, Bitch Phace (Taiwan), Dancologist (Malaysia), Freekzy Nutz (Singapore), NY & Neuron Crew (Korea), United Groovers (Singapore) and Xtatic (Philippines). Last Minute Street Crew and Bitch Phace took the runner up placings respectively.

Held for the the third year and in itʼs first Asian installation, CODE:EDGE 3 Asia Dance Finals saw crews and soloists competing to win the top prize of USD$5,000 in the group category and USD$1,000 in the solo category.

In the latter, host cityʼs representative, Muhd Zaihar gave Koreaʼs 1G (Weon Ji Hye) a fight for her money. She was crowned first runner up. Zaiharʼs strong musicality and control has seen him conquering the local dance circuit and now has proven him to be the one of the forerunners in Asia. Asked about how he feels on his win, Zaihar said that he was “truly humbled when S**T KINGZ (on the judging panel) said that I remind them of Lyle Beniga – my idol!”

He was joined by Aliff Aircho from Singapore, Bangster (Korea), Dongwoo (Korea), DT (Singapore) and Smoothie and Semmy Blank from Indonesia, in the solo category.

The three-hours dance extravaganza presented by Studio Wu which featured an Asia-wide street-style dance competition and showcases, was held in benefit of the Rainbow Centre, an early intervention school for children with special needs. Traditionally held in a club for the past two years, CODE:EDGE 3 Asia was recently staged in a familyoriented Downtown East as an activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family. This is in line with its adopted charityʼs vision, where the message that CODE:EDGE 3 Asia and Studio Wu wishes to put forth is to give children with special needs an equal chance at life and doing what other children can do. And at the same time, for the society at large to be socially responsible and to accept children with special needs into society.

Children under the auspices of Rainbow Centre are with various forms of intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, autism and other neurological disabilities. “Studio Wu recognizes the work that Rainbow Centre does and their efforts in creating awareness for children with special needs and we support their vision in giving these children an equal fighting chance”, says Miss Sheila Cheong, director of Studio Wu.

“Having worked with these children, I can see their eyes lit up when it comes to dance and movements and youʼd be surprised at how good they can be,” she adds. This all-inclusive message was highlighted at CODE:EDGE 3 Asia with a collaboration performance between Studio Wu dancers, members and instructors and the students from Rainbow Centre. Putting them on stage together in an event that featured international performers and judges and Asian dance crews and soloists paints a strong picture that everyone deserves the same chance and platform to shine through.

CODE:EDGE 3 Asia Dance Finals also featured overseas judges – S**T KINGZ, a Japanese dance crew, Parris Goebel from New Zealand and a US-based instructor, Aus Ninja. Apart from judging, they shared the stage with selected participants from the workshops which held on the previous day. This is the first of such initiatives spurred by Studio Wu to propel the growth of the Asian dance scene.

A idea mooted by Studio Wuʼs co-director Ms Carol Cheong, she hopes that “such efforts will give a boost to our dancers here in Asia and provide them with a real platform and stage to dance with their idols”.

Press Release prepared by Gerald K.

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