SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Lonwabo Buthelezi from Umlazi has been crowned eThekwini’s best dancer at the Durban leg of the Red Bull Dance Your Style which was held at uShaka Marine World on Sunday.

Buthelezi’s raw talent, confidence and undeniable stage presence earned him a spot in the national finals of the dance competition which will be held once all the five regional stages are complete. If successful, the young dance sensation stands a chance to represent Mzansi at the 2026 World Final in Zürich, Switzerland, on October 24.

Reflecting on how he ended up on stage and in front of a crowd filled with energy and unforgettable enthusiasm, Lonwabo said he was encouraged by his dance instructor. “My coach was a part of Red Bull Dance Your Style once, and he encouraged me to compete. I wanted to expose myself and my talent, so I decide why not.”

Known for his crowd-moving style, Lonwabo says one move always guarantees the perfect reaction: “The ‘Spring up’, is the dance move that I feel comfortable to do, I know it gets the right reaction from the crowd.”

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Buthelezi will be up against some of South Africa’s greatest raw talent in the final as the world’s largest all-style freestyle dance competition begins to take shape under the Red Bull Dance Your Style banner. The competition is well known for launching many careers and highlighting styles that emerged from the townships and streets.

Among its success stories are Teboho “Tebza” Diphehlo, the 2018 champion and Soweto’s pantsula expert, who appeared on a limited-edition Red Bull can as the first South African dancer to do so and Shanny J (Shannon Kivido), the 2021 standout from Boksburg, who became the first South African woman to reach the global event with her waacking and voguing skills.

More recently, young stars such as Aimsley Fortuin from Cape Town in 2025 have carried on this tradition, representing the country in Los Angeles, US. All events are free and open to the public, inviting dancers aged 16 and above – no prior experience needed, just enthusiasm and style. The next leg of the competition will be at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg on February 21. For more information or to register, visit www.redbulldanceyourstyle.com.

Red Bull Dance Your Style at uShaka Marine World on Sunday. Photos: Thuligraphy Images

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