...the Philippine All-Star

Philippine Allstars finishes 1st place at dance competition in Switzerland

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

June 13, 2011

Manila Bulletin

The Allstars performing at the Dance2Dance competition in Zurich (Screen grab from YouTube)

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Allstars did it again!

The premiere hip-hop dance group bagged first place at the annual Dance2Dance: The World Streetdance Showcase Competition held last June 11 at the Theater 11 in Zurich, Switzerland.

They outdid nine other groups from USA, Sweden, Poland Italy, and even Switzerland. It was no measly feat, as the jury who evaluated the performances consisted of dance experts such as Burim Jusufi (Rihanna’s dancer), Tiziana Cocca (Black Eyed Peas’ dancer), Kristin Lorello (from “America’s Best Dance Crew”) and Laushaun Price (from the Debbie Reynolds Studio).

Allstars' triumph came with a 5,000 CHF cash prize, or roughly over P250,000. But more than the money,  they are grateful for snagging yet another achievement.

“Thank you Lord for the blessings! Thank you Lord for our family! Thank you Lord for everything!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

PHILIPPINE ALLSTARS, 1ST PLACE in Dance2Dance Competition in Zurich, Switzerland. Thank YOU! :)” read one of their Facebook shoutouts on June 12.

They also thanked their fans for their support.

“[T]hank you ALL for the Prayers =) GOD has given Philippines and ASIA another GOLD =) To GOD be the GLORY!!! WOOOHHHOOOO!! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL!” the Allstars also wrote.
 
As seen in the Dance2Dance official website, the competition featured “pre-selected professional dance teams from all over the world to see who’s got what it takes to stand alone, as the best of the best.”

Since their formation in 2005, the Allstars has already won in various prestigious dance contests outside the country. They were the first Asian group to strike back-to-back golds in the International Hip-Hop Open d’Italia (Turin, Italy) and World Hip-Hop Dance Championships (Los Angeles, California) in 2006.

The Allstars enjoyed a winning streak at the V.Ent’s First Annual Dance Awards (as Team of the Year) in 2007, as well as at the World Hip-Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2008 and the Malta Guiness Streetdance Africa in Kenya in 2009 (where they both received Gold).