Nine dance crews from PHL to join 'Olympics' of hip-hop competitions in US

LOS ANGELES — Nine dance crews from the Philippines will be joining the so-called "Olympics of hip hop dance competitions" — the World Dance Championships of the Hip Hop International dance organization in Los Angeles from July 30 to August 5.

The competition will be held at the Red Rock Resort and Orleans Arena.
 
The nine dance crews from the Philippines include:

• Fresh Fusion,
• Legit Status,
• A-Team,
• The Crew,
• The Project,
• Philippine Allstars,
• UP Street Dance Club, and
• La Salle Dance Company.

The dance crews will be competing in the varsity, adult, and megacrew divisions.
 
The nine Philippine teams have passed the semi-final and final rounds of their divisions.

The most successful of all the teams so far is the Philippine Allstars, which has won gold medals in 2006 and 2008. They also brought home a bronze medal in 2007. 

The Philippine Allstars winning performance in 2008 was widely praised by dance crews from France, Uruguay and South Africa. 

The other notable Filipino crews are Legit Status and Fresh Flow.
 
Legit Status has been competing at the Hip Hop International since 2009 in various divisions. 

This year, Legit Status will compete in the varsity and megacrew divisions.

Although they haven't won a medal yet, Legit Status member Rammy Bitong said: "We're getting closer and closer to those medal positions. In, 2009 we were 7th place overall, 2012 6th place, and last year in 5th place."
 
Bitong also said: "It's important for Philippine crews to participate because we have so much to offer. There's dancing everywhere you go in the Philippines and it's a good way of representing our nation."
 
For more information and real time results during the competition visit hhi.pacificrimvideo.com or hiphopinternational.com. - VVP, GMA News