Konnichiwa, messieurs B-Boys!

On June 25 and 26 the last two Red Bull BC One qualifiers took place in Tokyo and Paris. Will their respective winners Sebastien and Taisuke be successful in the power move to the top at the finals in Johannesburg as well?

“Konnichiwa” (“hello”) and “sayonara” (“good bye”), “hai” (“yes”) and “iie” (“no”) – basics in Japanese could be as similarly important for the new breakdance generation as the right usage of American hiphop vocabulary was for the founding generation. Because around the epicenter of Japan, breakdance culture is booming in the South-East Asian realm. At the Red Bull BC One 2006 two South Koreans made it to the top three – and at the Red Bull BC One qualifiers in Japan, which took place on June 25, the jury, according to one member, experienced the “strongest competition in the whole series.”

Taisuke is Japan's "One"

At the event in Tokyo, the last of the total of nine Red Bull BC One qualifiers, each of the 16 participating B-Boys had earned a ticket to Johannesburg. The “one” who’ll be representing his homeland at the Red Bull BC One, is the 17-year-old Taisuke from Nagasaki – a member of the All Area Crew, declared favorite of the local public – and damn ambitious. “The finals are going to be tough,” he said. “That’s why I’m going to train every day and night, because I still have to improve a whole lot.“

Sebastien competing for France

However, the event in the Parisian “Cigale” on June 26, the last Red Bull BC One qualifier, was also high-class. Here 16 B-Boys from France, Spain, Great Britain and Turkey fought a two-hour-long battle for victory. It went to the 24-year-old Sebastien alias T.I.A.N.Y., who won hands down – he could have only used one anyway, due to an injury sustained in the semi-finals.

Complete list of competitors to come

In total, 16 dancers will compete against each other at the Red Bull BC One in Johannesburg, possibly the most important breakdance contest in the world. And from these 16 the best B-Boy worldwide will be ascertained. Additionally competing against the winners of the nine already held qualifiers will be those who won votes online, the defending champion and several wildcards. A complete list of participants will soon be posted here and on the official website www.redbullbcone.com.