Dancers face off with superb show of talent

THE atmosphere inside the 1st Avenue Mall was electric with excitement as hundreds of people gathered to watch “Battle Mania 2023: Clash of Titans”, Penang’s biggest modern dance contest, featuring slick body popping and cool hip-hop moves.

The stage was set up in the centre of the mall’s atrium, with a large crowd of spectators gathered around.

As the music started, the dancers took the stage to battle it out in various categories – Popping, Hip Hop, Master & Disciple, Open Showcase and Kpop.

There were almost 200 dancers, including those from Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand, vying for top honours in the two-day competition.

The dancers launched into action combining popping, locking and breaking moves as their bodies twisted and turned while performing their routines with passion and precision.

Dancers battling out in the Battle Mania 2023: Clash of Titans at the 1st Avenue Mall on Oct 15.( October 15, 2023). – CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

The popping dancers moved with robotic precision, their bodies popping and locking to the beat of the music.

They executed complex moves with ease, their bodies transformed into machines of rhythm and grace.

The hip hop dancers, on the other hand, brought a more grounded energy to the stage, their movements fluid and powerful.

They break-danced, spun and glided across the floor, their bodies moving in rhythm to the explosive beats provided by DJ William.

1st Avenue Mall assistant general manager Tracy Tan (middle) with some of the category winners (clockwise from right, standing), Lee (Popping), Phatsaraporn (Hip Hop), Soon and Beh (Master and Disciple).

The judges had a hard time choosing between the talented contestants, but in the end, only the best won in the respective categories.

The category winners were Phatsaraporn Ongsiriwattana (Hip Hop), Lee Ser Cheong (Popping), Jeffry Beh and Eric Soon (Master & Disciple), Myvericks group (Open Showcase) and Xeno group (Kpop).Soon and Beh, both 28, managed to out-dance Carmen Loh, 29, and Taiwanese Li Cheng Lin, 27 to win the Master & Disciple category.

The champions each took home a specially designed championship ring worth RM1,200.

Meanwhile, the runners-up received an RM800 cash prize.

A contestant wowing the crowd with his dance skills.

Beh said he had never won a dancing competition before and had also not met his partner prior to the competition, as he was randomly picked from the pool of 16 battle guests or masters via a lot draw.

“It was difficult dancing with someone you’ve never met before.

“In the first round, our routine had to be impromptu as we each did our own thing, while for the next round, we got to rehearse only for 10 minutes or so.

“Never in my life did I expect to win, as I only joined Battle Mania 2023 for the experience.

“I also had a lot of fun meeting other dancers who came from all over the country and the world,” said the salesman after the prize-giving ceremony.

The Kpop random dance session saw youngsters including children rushing to the dance floor to execute popular dance routines.

Organiser William Ooi from Ipoh-based Owl Dance Studio said this was the second Battle Mania organised.

The response, he said, was much better than in 2022.

Dancers striking a cool pose for the camera.

“We hope to organise an even bigger competition next year.

“This year’s dancers were great, and they danced really well to the music picked by the DJ as they were not allowed to pre-select the music themselves.

“The modern dance contest was a huge success. It was a celebration of dance, creativity and talent,” he said.