Red Bull brings global dance battles to Filipino club scene

Manila's nightlife is no stranger to noise, but on one charged evening recently, XYLO at the Palace hosted a different kind of electricity. The beats were raw, the energy unruly, and the stakes sky-high, as Red Bull Dance Your Style returned for its regional qualifier in the Philippines' capital - a stop in its wider Asia tour.

Launched in 2018 with 14 countries and 29 events, the dance battles have since grown significantly - reaching 51 countries and 190 events by 2024. Amid a wave of brand-led cultural initiatives, Red Bull Dance Your Style stands out with an open format, global scale, and local focus - placing the spotlight on spontaneity, crowd energy, and raw expression over polished performance.

Unlike traditional dance competitions judged by panels of experts, Red Bull's format thrives on spontaneity and public verdict. No fixed routines, no pre-set music, just dancers squaring off in one-on-one battles, guided only by instinct, rhythm, and the roar of the crowd.

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This year's Manila faceoff was more than just a stepping stone to the finals. It became a portrait of how street dance culture in the Philippines has grown into its own movement. According to its website, Red Bull Dance Your Style in the Philippines had three regional qualifiers across Manila, Cebu, and Davao. 

Jigoro, who walked away with the crown that night in Manila, delivered more than just physical precision. His blend of creativity and raw charisma struck a chord with the audience. "Thank you so much to everyone who gave their love and support, to all the dancers there who gave their best, to the whole dance community who keeps pushing the standard of dance to a higher level," he wrote on Instagram.

The night's runner-up, EBOY, also earned a ticket to the National Finals in Ayala Center Cebu. They will be joining SUJI and SPADECKX from the Davao qualifier, as well as Playmaker and JPY from Cebu, in a final throwdown slated for 24 May - an event that will decide who gets to carry the country's colours at the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final in Los Angeles this October.

Beyond the dance floor, Red Bull continues to channel its brand energy into global causes. The 2025 Wings for Life World Run brought together runners worldwide in a unique charity race, all to support spinal cord injury research. This year's event broke records and raised over €8.6 million (US$9.7 million), with 100% of proceeds directed to funding vital scientific studies and clinical trials.

Last year, Red Bull partnered with Woman In Action Studios to release Beyond the Board, a documentary chronicling the journey of Margielyn Didal, the Philippines' first Olympic skateboarder. From her humble beginnings in Cebu to reaching the finals at Tokyo 2020, the film follows Didal's rise, her battles with injury, and her fight to qualify for Paris 2024 - highlighting both her resilience and the broader struggles of Filipino athletes.

Red Bull was first introduced in Austria in 1987, but only entered the Philippine market in 2012. Since its local debut, the brand has been distributed in the country by TC Pharmaceutical Industries.

In 2024, Red Bull sold 12.67 billion cans globally - up 4.4% from an already strong 2023. The company also saw its revenue climb 6.4%, rising from €10.55 billion (US$11.92 billion) to €11.23 billion (US$12.69 billion).

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