RED BULL ‘BRING THE VIM’: DANCE, MUSIC AND CULTURE
RED BULL ‘BRING THE VIM’: There are some events where you can feel the energy before anything has even started. Red Bull ‘Bring The Vim’ was definitely one of them.
The fourth edition of the dance competition began with Part One at one of Red Bull’s Sun Bars, giving guests a first taste of what Bring The Vim was all about. Alongside the Red Bull flavours being mixed into signature cocktails, there was Wingstop on hand, plus interactive stations for tooth gems and waist beads, where guests could add their own personal touch. It was a relaxed introduction to the event before things moved from the bar to the dance floor.
That energy carried straight into Part Two at Boxpark Croydon on Saturday 12th September, where more than 2,000 people came together for an evening centred around Afro dance, music and culture.
Hosted by Remi Burgz, the night moved between live performances, showcases and dance battles, with CULTUR FM DJs providing the soundtrack throughout. HomeBros and Afro In Heels also took to the stage for their showcases, bringing two very different energies to the room while showing exactly why Afro dance continues to have such a strong presence within UK culture.
HomeBros brought their own mix of sharp choreography, musicality and personality, while Afro In Heels delivered a performance full of confidence, attitude and movement. Neither needed much introduction. Once they stepped onto the floor, the crowd knew exactly what time it was.
Then NSG stepped up.
The Afroswing collective brought their familiar blend of UK and African sounds to the stage, performing some of their biggest records and turning the space into more of a party than a dance competition. It was one of those moments where everyone, whether they came for the battles or the music, had a reason to get involved.
But, of course, the real competition was still to come.
For the first time in Bring The Vim history, international crews joined the battle. UK crews One Dialect and Outsiders went head-to-head with France’s La Révolution and Belgium’s +32, with each crew bringing their own style, creativity and interpretation of Afro dance to the floor.
And the crowd were very much part of the judging.
Alongside the votes from the judging panel, made up of Bontle, Emergency and Bombastiik, the Vim-O-Meter measured just how loud the room could get. Considering there were over 2,000 people watching, it was never going to be a quiet one.
After battling their way through the competition, France’s La Révolution took the title, beating One Dialect in the final.
But speaking to one of the leaders of Outsiders, it was clear that winning wasn’t the only reason people were there. We asked: “What does it mean to you to be part of Red Bull Bring The Vim, an event that brings Afro dance, music and culture together?”
For them, the real Vim came from seeing everyone’s love for dance in one place. Different crews, different styles and different people, all sharing the same space, dancing, laughing and supporting each other. There was a real sense of community to the night, with the dance floor feeling less like a stage and more like a family gathering where everyone happened to know how to move.
Similarly, that feeling was shared by CULTUR FM, who told us that being part of Bring The Vim means being part of a movement that is putting African dance and music culture on a global scale. For them, it’s about more than connecting the diaspora. It’s about bringing African sounds, culture and community to wider audiences and giving people the opportunity to connect with it for the first time.
And that’s probably the easiest way to understand Bring The Vim.
It isn’t just about who can dance the best. It’s about what happens when music, movement and culture bring a room full of people together. From the Sun Bar sessions to the final battle at Boxpark, Red Bull created a space where people could show up, get involved and, most importantly, enjoy themselves.
Words: Nickeeba Archer
Photography: @leondoggydogg
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