A team of six Show Off Dance Complex dancers from Aalst (East Flanders) is heading to Phoenix, in the United States, to represent Belgium at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship . The first round takes place next Tuesday afternoon. This is the second time the team has taken part in the competition.
Spectacular Aalst dance team heads to World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Phoenix (USA)
Colin Clapson
Published:
This year’s World Hip Hop Dance Championship has around 55 countries taking part, with more than 3,000 dancers in all. Charlene De Backer of Show Off Dance Complex describes the event as “the Olympics of Dancing”.
The team from Aalst is performing a routine paying tribute to singer Pitbull. The dancers completely transform themselves to resemble the artist, including using a bald cap – a flesh-coloured swimming cap that makes the head appear bald. “It’s glued to our heads so that it stays in place,” explains Charlene.
Aiming for the second round
The team has been dancing with bald caps all season in a choreography was created by Rudi Smit. The team consists of six members: Charlene, Karo, Nele, Chloë, Wiktoria and Vincent.
According to Charlene, the team has set itself a clear goal. “Above all, we hope to make it through to the second round”. Of the 70 odd teams participating, half are eliminated in the first round.
Charlene is disappointed that dance receives so little attention in Belgium. “Dance has always been a bit of a sport that stays under the radar, and we’re trying to change that!”