Dance
Meet the Canadian Breakers Who Competed at the Red Bull BC One World Final
The birthplace of hip-hop hosted the biggest break dance competition in the world on November 12th. Learn more about the competitors who repped the great white north.
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Since its inception in 2004, break dancers across the globe have dreamed of earning a spot in the annual BC One World Final. For those granted the honour of sharing the floor with the world’s top B-Girls and B-Boys in a series of fierce one-on-one battles, coming out on top is an accomplishment like no other.
This year, New York City’s historic Hammerstein Ballroom played host to all the action. On November 12, 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls united for this highly anticipated competition; throwing everything they’ve got on the floor in front of a panel of judges in the hopes of being the last one standing. With breaking making its sporting debut at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, the world final now also serves as a roster of potential athletes — adding even more heat to an already incendiary event.
Earning a spot at the BC One World Final can be achieved through a few different avenues. Typically, the lineup is stacked with wildcards: breakers invited to compete based on their distinguished reputations and impressive accomplishments within their communities. Two spots are always saved for the champions of the Red Bull BC One E-Battle: a global competition which welcomes anyone with access to the internet to showcase their unique gravity-denying flow and footwork.
26 min
ABC of... Red Bull BC One
From its origins to the energy-filled battles of today, get up to speed with this one-of-a-kind dance event.
Once all wildcard invites have been accepted and the E-Battle champions have been crowned, the remaining spots are filled by the winners of the Last Chance Cypher: the ultimate series of 1v1 break battles tackled by BC One National Final victors.
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The Canadians putting their best footwork forward
B-boy Phil Wizard and B-girl Emma
© Little Shao / Red Bull Content Pool
Canada is home to two of this year’s wildcard competitors: B-Boy Phil Wizard and B-Girl Emma. Both hailing from British Columbia, they’ve roused enough global attention and praise to earn fast track tickets to the world final floor — making Emma the first ever B-Girl invited to represent Canada at the event.
“This opportunity means everything to me,” says Emma. “I honestly got pretty emotional when I was asked to be a wildcard, it made me have an ‘I made it’ feeling, and reassured me that I am on the right path.”
At 22 years-old, Emma’s six-year long breaking journey is as explosive as her footwork. In 2018, she made history as one of the first breakers to win an Olympic medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she took home silver. Three years later, she was crowned the 2021 Red Bull BC One Cypher Canada champion.
B-Girl Emma and B-Boy Mass celebrate winning Red Bull BC One Cypher.
© Dale Tidy / Red Bull Content Pool
Supported by a community of devoted family, friends, and crewmates, Emma’s prepared to tackle the world final stage thanks to a diligent training schedule focused on honing her creative flow and killer stamina. No matter what happens next, her status as an exciting trailblazer in the global breaking scene is undeniable.
B-Boy Phil Wizard is stirring up a tidal wave of well-deserved buzz since it was announced he would be replacing B-Boy Hong 10 at the world final as a wildcard competitor. An electric presence on the floor and a fresh addition to the Red Bull BC One All Stars, he’s favoured to come out on top.
B-boy Phil Wizard
© Little Shao / Red Bull Content Pool
Phil’s breaking journey has been his life’s focus since he witnessed his first street battle in downtown Vancouver when he was 13-years-old. Motivated by a pure and unwavering love of dance, he’s remained committed to developing his style, and finding joy in every step of the way.
A fun fact about Phil: the first break dancing video he ever watched was a clip from the 2009 Red Bull BC One World Final. Now getting ready to bring his action-packed flow, freezes, and footwork to the world final stage, an exhilarating full-circle moment is upon us.
Same place, same competition, 13 years later
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BC One National Final Champions
Red Bull BC One Canadian National Final 2022 winners posing for a photo
© Anthony Tuccitto
Maintaining powerful momentum following their victories at the BC One Canadian National Final in Toronto, Anthony Put (aka B-Boy Illz) and Alexandra Mozil (aka B-Girl Sasha Fox) are off to NYC to compete in the Last Chance Cypher. If they’re able to continue their dominating streak, they’ll be joining Phil and Emma on the world final stage.
Born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, Anthony erupted onto the break dance scene at age 12, and hasn’t slowed down since.
Boasting over 100 first place wins and numerous commercial representations, including appearances in Hollywood cinema and performances for iconic pop stars such as the Black Eyed Peas and Avril Lavigne, Anthony has established a global reputation as a force to be reckoned with. The 30-year-old breaker has also trained with a vast community of crews, recently becoming a member of Canada’s National Breaking Team.
Reaching beyond his already hefty list of accolades, Anthony has set his sights on earning a spot “at breaking’s most prestigious competition,” describing the mere possibility as “a dream come true.”
Charging onto the Last Chance Cypher stage alongside Anthony, Alexandra ‘Sasha Fox’ Mozil is energized after winning the Canadian National Final as a direct wildcard.
Having grown up in Moscow, Russia, where she began training at age 17 with various crews, mentors, and the breaking school “Volnorez” before immigrating to Canada in 2013, Alexandra attributes her award-winning breaking style to her unique variety of global influences.
Always aspiring to expand her breaking community and deepen her well of inspiration, she’s looking forward to “[connecting] with other B-Boys and B-Girls” in NYC at the world final event.
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How to watch the Red Bull BC One World Final
Did you miss the Red Bull BC One World Final? Watch the competition on Red Bull TV.
Phil Wizard finished in the top eight, while Emma and Illz landed in the top 16. Sasha Fox and Illz competed in the Red Bull BC One Last Chance Cypher, and Illz advanced on to the world final.
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