Kenya's fourth annual Red Bull Dance Your Style kicks off

The event celebrates street battles, with the top national dance finalist receiving the opportunity to represent Kenya at the world finals.

Local dancers will compete in 1 vs 1 dance battles, with the audience determining the victor. The competition will be held in five regions across the country, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru.

This year's auditions will also be available online, enabling dancers from all over Kenya to participate.

The top 16 dancers will advance to the national finals in Nairobi, where they will compete for a chance to showcase their talent on the international stage.

Chiki Kiruka, the founder of Dance Shagzz, encouraged participants to demonstrate their passion for dance during the audition.

"Your emotions have to be very strong," she stated. "When you know your craft and style and connect with the crowd, you are judged comfortable in your moves."

Last year, Collins Owade and Ian Tiko represented Kenya in the Redbull Dance Your Style final, which took place at Montecasino South Africa. Collins was delighted with the experience, and he is eager to participate in this year's competition.

"It was shocking since it was my first time on an international stage to compete with the World’s biggest names," he said. "I believe I have what it takes to reach the finals."

The D Soraki, a Japanese hip hop dancer, won last year's competition after a fierce battle with Nigeria's King Da Vinci. The regional qualifiers will take place before the national finals, which are scheduled for August 5, 2023, in Nairobi.

The winner of this year's Red Bull Dance Your Style competition will represent Kenya at the World Finals in Germany later in the year.