Uniting Through Dance: AZ Filipino Community Rallies Behind Hip Hop Dance Crews
The 2024 World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Phoenix brought Arizona’s Filipino community together in a display of cultural pride and support. This year’s event featured the largest-ever delegation from the Philippines, with 16 teams and over 300 dancers, who collectively secured five medals.
Event Coverage Team: Jennifer Lewis, Brianna Lewis, and Brent Lewis
The Philippine contingent, including well-known crews like UPeepz, A-Kidz, and HQ, made their mark in various divisions. UPeepz claimed the title of World Champion by winning gold in the MegaCrew division, A-Kidz earned gold in the varsity division and bronze in the Junior Varsity MegaCrew category, while HQ secured a bronze in the Adult division and The Peepz won silver, further showcasing their continued excellence on the global hip-hop stage.
Throughout the event, the Filipino community in Arizona played a supportive role, helping the dancers feel welcomed and at ease. This support was truly appreciated, with Coach Nikko of UPeepz noting, “They’ve been feeding us and making our bellies full all the time, making sure that we just focus on the competition”
Miss Teen Philippines Arizona 2024, Fhrances Cabuslay, stopped by to also show her support for the teams. Representing the Filipino American Marriage-Group of Arizona (FAMAZ), her presence also served as one of the many positive gestures and offers of encouragement the dancers received ahead of their performances.
Charmel Dela Cruz, Chair of the Council of Filipino Organizations of Arizona, expressed the pride felt by the community: “We are so proud of our teams tonight. Arizona has become a second home for our delegates, and we’ve united as a community to support them. I am so grateful”
The 2024 World Hip Hop Dance Championship will be remembered not only for the medals won but also for the connections formed between the Filipino dancers and the Arizona community. As the dancers return to the Philippines, they carry with them the love and support of a community that embraced them during their time in Arizona. The Filipino community in Arizona has shown that Bayanihan remains a vital force, bringing people together through the shared love of dance.