The Dancers Are Athletes showcase presented by Urban Dance League on April 25th was a night to remember. The show started with performances by guest choreographers Geheny Rivera, Daniel Montera, (performed by Jenna Lestingi ) and Yvonne-Marie. Each piece was unique and showcased the incredible talent and creativity of these choreographers.
The main event was the UDL competition between the home team and the guest team. The home team consisted of Zada, Nona, Andrea, Nicole, and Mohnish, all of whom put on an amazing display of skill . The guest team, made up of
Ismael, Sid, Jesse, Rabbit, and Angie, brought their A-game and gave the home team a run for their money.
The energy in the room was electric as the two teams battled it out on the dance floor. The judges had a tough job deciding the winner, You can purchase VIP Status and receive exclusive content from our games. https://www.urbandanceleague.com/product-page/udl-vip-status
Rabbit
"I never thought the smell of sweaty feet would ever invoke the feeling of success. After weeks of hard work and focusing on the task at hand, I have never been more proud of my after-dance funk. Leading up to joining UDL I found myself awkward and out of pocket. I had my reservations about joining a young crew who were badasses on the floor. I had done my research and saw videos and proof how these athletes took their craft seriously and joining UDL would not be an easy feat. After completing my first full game and coming out on top with a win (not to mention the MVD) it's crazy thinking how just months ago my intimidation level was off the charts and my nerves were holding me back. Joining this team has an affect on your confidence and I’ve learned we’re all here for the same reason, just dance. Our common thread is the dedication to the choreography and making sure we practice hard so we can show up on game day, prepared like an athlete should be. Even though my hard work and hours of practice is what ultimately paid off, the camaraderie and sportsmanship amongst one another parallels the importance of practice. Prior to game night, we had time to sidebar as teams; talk strategy and work out anything on our minds. The conversations that were had here produced the best advice to help me through my final round. We all discussed the importance of staying in your zone and phasing the other competitor out, so many things can take place that can easily throw you off out of nowhere, the best thing is just staying focused on what you yourself is doing. Low and behold, final dance, my guy goes off beat and the second I picked up on it, I literally turned him off in my brain and stopped using my peripheral vision. My main thought was, “If I keep counting and going with the right beat- I can get this round”. I was singing that song and connecting my feet and went on autopilot. After waiting a million years for the results- my team and I pulled it off! The teamwork and practice made the perfect combo. It was such a fun night seeing everyone smiling and just having fun. Everyone crushed it and really put the work in. I feel so proud to be in such a great circle of talent and positive attitudes for the sake of enjoying dance. So when I finally get home and take my shoes off, I’ve become fond of my stinky shoes as much as my cat. That funkiness is the proof of the effort and determination I put in, like a true athlete."
SID
"Thank you for watching our game! As a member of this league I can’t explain to you the excitement that this atmosphere gives me. We are pumped with adrenaline, fired up from the crowd, and most of all ready to show off our personalities. I love how each dancer on this league is unique, as well as the music and choreography that Ant puts together (on the spot). I am thankful to be a part of this team and thankful for Ant for bringing us together. I hope you can join us at our next game or join us in rehearsal!"
Jesse
"This being my first game, I was incredibly nervous in the days leading up to it. But once I stepped into the room, it was nothing but smiles. I loved being surrounded by the energy every single dancer and audience member brought. I think it was a great way to kick off competing with UDL and I can’t wait for the next games!!"
Andrea
"This game was a really wonderful experience, i loved how we included other performers from other companies/places, the livestream added more pressure to the competition which was something great. Many people enjoyed the show and i loved the audience, the choreography and everything about this show."
Nicole
"I have so much fun performing at Urban Dance League games. For me it’s not about winning it’s about having fun and doing your best, to me that is what dance is about. Each and every dancer in our games are unique and bring something to the table. I am honored to share the dance floor with such talented people each and every game. UDL Dance Battles are a sport and I love that this company encourages that."