Dubai-based breakdancer Omar has won the UAE regional heat of the Red Bull BC One Cypher.
At the event at the Desert Fish Studios in Dubai, he beat 15 other competitors to be crowned champion. He will now represent the country at the regional finals in Egypt in August.
After a thrilling performance that stunned the judges and audience, he said: “I don’t do moves I just express myself. I feel the music and it makes me different. I do simple moves with a lot of energy which is why I look different. If you put energy into it, it looks different even if it’s an easy move.”
Following three rounds of battles, he won the final against fellow B-Boy Peppa.
B-Boy Mounir, winner of Red Bull BC One World Final 2012 and one of the three judges said: “Omar was cleaner; he kept his energy during the battle and had many variations. Some B-Boys ran out of moves. This is the only way to win this kind of competition. It’s to be able to show different kinds of moves. You start repeating, you lose."
As for the UAE's breakdance scene, Mounir added: “The level is better every year, but like many cyphers around the world, most of the B-Boys still need to learn from their peers. The workshop we did was great. Most of them are still young and, in due time, will mature through experience.”
B-Boy Omar, who also was victorious in last year’s UAE Cypher is originally from Algeria
If he impresses judges at the regional finals, he could win a place at the world finals in Seoul, South Korea, on November 30.
As for his tips for other would-be breakdance champions, he said: “Practice makes perfect, don’t give up. I’ve had some problems, but I never gave up. I’m just going to keep dancing till the last minute of my life. Another thing: Dance to express yourself, not to impress."