THE inaugural UDO Malaysia Championship 2025 is set to take place at Sunshine Central, Farlim in Penang on Jan 18 and 19.
Organised by Yi-Concept and the Association of Street Dance Education Malaysia, with support from the state Exco for Youth, Sports and Health through the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC), this largest street dance competition in Malaysia serves as a qualifier for the prestigious UDO Asia Pacific competition to be held in Siracha, Thailand, in April.
“The UDO Dance Competition is renowned internationally, celebrating the best in street dance and hip-hop culture. With categories ranging from solos to large crews, the competition not only showcases creativity and skill but also fosters camaraderie, unity and excellence among dancers of all ages and backgrounds,” Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, the state executive councillor for Sports, Youth and Health, told a press conference in Komtar today.
“This is a platform for discovering and empowering young talent, offering them the chance to grow in a supportive and encouraging environment. It’s an opportunity for our youth to gain confidence, refine their skills, and connect with fellow dancers. Furthermore, this event fosters international collaboration, allowing dancers to engage with peers from other countries and cultures.”
He added that the winners of the UDO Malaysia Championship, which offers cash and prizes worth RM23,000, will earn the chance to represent Malaysia at the eighth edition of the Asian Pacific competition.
The categories and divisions include solos (Under-12, Under-18, Over 18), duos (Under-12, Under-18, Over 18), Parent & Child Duo (Child must be Under-14), Team (Under-12, Under-18, Ultimate Advanced), Hip Hop 1v1 (Under-12, Open), Popping 1v1 (Under-16, Open), Breaking 1v1 (Under-16, Open) and All Style 2v2 (Open).
Gooi expressed hope that the national-level competition in Penang will unearth talents that will go on to compete at a higher level, including the Olympics. He noted that break dancing debuted at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“Let’s come together to celebrate the power of dance, the vibrant energy for our youth and the unity that the competition brings to our community,” he said.
Yi Concept founder Seah Loh highlighted that they are promoting break dance as an alternative sport to the common sports in Malaysia, like football, where children as young as four years old can take up dancing.
“We believe in using dance as an education, not just by textbooks, but by developing motor skills and character building as well. We can groom them for a better future and create pathways for sports and careers,” Loh explained.
Yi Concept principal Agnes Yap shared that the event marks the first time in eight years that Malaysia is hosting a qualifier for the UDO Asia Pacific competition.
She said a standout moment in past competitions includes the success of Malaysian Jackson Boogie J, who took part at the Asia Pacific level in 2018 and now returns as a judge for the UDO Malaysia Championship.
According to Yap, the competition has attracted over 150 participants, including seven parent-child pairs.
The press conference also featured a choreography showcase by 28-year-old Lim Eng Keong and Kenji Koay, a Form Five student from Chung Ling High School, who will be competing together in the duo category.
Also present at the press conference were PYDC general manager Lum Chia How and Yi Concept dance instructor Kerry Teoh.
For more information, please contact Ms Shafinaz, liaison officer at 013-5410973 or email to [email protected] or organiser Mr Seah Loh at 010-5630377.
For registration details and event updates, visit the official UDO website at www.udostreetdance.com or scan QR code on the poster.
Story by Lim Min Jun
Pix by Law Suun Ting