Cover image via Will Hsu/Red Bull (Provided to SAYS) & Red Bull (Provided to SAYS)
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Big news for Malaysia's dance scene. The first-ever Red Bull Dance Your Style Asia Tour stop in KL just wrapped, and two local dancers have now been selected to represent the country at the Regional Finals in Singapore.
The tour brought international dancers to KL for workshops, cultural exchanges, and live showcases across the city, ending with the selection of 26-year-old Lim Yeow Hwee (Marcus) from Johor Bahru, and 19-year-old Kayllash Thiagarajan from Kuala Lumpur as Malaysia's representatives.
They will compete against top dancers from Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, and Singapore for a spot at the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final in Zurich, Switzerland this October.
Lim Yeow Hwee (Marcus) from Johor Bahru (left) and Kayllash Thiagarajan from KL will represent Malaysia.
Image via Will Hsu/Red Bull (Provided to SAYS)Marcus said the selection comes with both pride and responsibility: "It feels like a huge honour to represent Malaysia at the first-ever Southeast Asia Regional Finals. I do feel some pressure because I'm representing the entire Malaysian dance scene, but I'm mostly excited to share my style."
Kayllash said the opportunity reflects the growth of the local scene: "I feel honoured and grateful for the opportunity. I think this shows that the Malaysian dance scene has come a long way and we are finally getting the recognition we deserve."
The tour, supported by Tourism Malaysia, began with a visit to Batu Caves, where visiting dancers were introduced to one of the country's most recognisable cultural landmarks
The All-Stars, including Majid, Waackxxxy, Poppin' C, and The D Soraki, also took part in a cultural exchange session with the National Department for Culture and Arts, where they were introduced to Mak Yong, a traditional Malaysian performance art.
2023 Red Bull Dance Your Style World Champion Waackxxxy said the experience offered a new perspective on movement and expression: "Learning the Mak Yong was one of the highlights of this tour. The movements were so beautiful. It gave me a new perspective on Malaysian culture."
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Following the cultural programme, Majid and Poppin' C led workshops for local dancers focused on technique, musicality, and performance for international competition
Majid said he was impressed with the level of talent in Malaysia's street dance community.
"It is my first time in Malaysia, and I've been surprised by the level of skill here. There are some really solid dancers in this scene who have a lot of potential," he said.
He added that consistency, authenticity, and discipline are key for dancers aiming to compete on the global stage.
The tour concluded with a public showcase in Bukit Bintang, where international All-Stars and Malaysian dancers performed together in a street-style battle format
The event drew a crowd in the city centre and highlighted the growing visibility of Malaysia's street dance scene.
The Red Bull Dance Your Style Regional Finals will take place on 25 April at *SCAPE Ground Theatre in Singapore
Winners from the region will advance to the World Final in Zurich later this year.
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