Penang’s biggest modern dance contest, “Battle Mania 2023: Clash of Titans”, took place at the 1st Avenue Mall, attracting hundreds of excited spectators. The event featured various categories, including Popping, Hip Hop, Master & Disciple, Open Showcase, and Kpop, with nearly 200 dancers from different countries competing for top honors over two days. The talented dancers showcased their skills in body popping, hip-hop moves, and other impressive routines.
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 demonstrated robotic precision, executing intricate moves effortlessly. Their body movements perfectly synced with the music. On the other hand, the hip hop dancers brought a grounded and powerful energy to the stage, showcasing fluid and dynamic moves. DJ William provided explosive beats, complementing their performances.
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 judging panel faced a tough decision in selecting the winners, but ultimately, the best dancers prevailed in their respective categories. Phatsaraporn Ongsiriwattana took the top spot in Hip Hop, while Lee Ser Cheong triumphed in Popping. Jeffry Beh and Eric Soon claimed victory in the Master & Disciple category, and Myvericks group and Xeno group emerged victorious in the Open Showcase and Kpop categories respectively. The champions received specially designed championship rings worth RM1,200, while the runners-up received an RM800 cash prize.
A contestant wowing the crowd with his dance skills.
Jeffry Beh, one of the winners in the Master & Disciple category, expressed his surprise at the victory, as he had never won a dance competition before and had not met his partner until the event. The duo had to improvise their routine in the first round and only had 10 minutes to rehearse for the next round. Beh also enjoyed the experience of meeting dancers from different parts of the country and the world.
The event also featured a Kpop random dance session, which attracted enthusiastic youngsters, including children, who eagerly participated in popular dance routines. Organized by William Ooi from Owl Dance Studio, the second edition of Battle Mania received a better response compared to the previous year. Ooi expressed his hope for an even bigger competition next year, praising this year’s dancers for their impressive performances to music selected by the DJ rather than being pre-selected.
Dancers striking a cool pose for the camera.
Overall, the Battle Mania 2023 dance contest was a resounding success, celebrating dance, creativity, and talent.
