This August 2012, a select group of the country’s best dancers, known as Legit Status, will represent the Philippines in the Varsity and Megacrew divisions of the 2012 World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Las Vegas, the most respected annual international hip hop dance competition in the last ten years.

The prestigious competition is operated by the world’s foremost authority on street dance, Hip Hop International, who is also the creator of the hit television show “America’s Best Dance Crew.” As in the previous three years, Legit Status has accepted the invitation to be an official representative of the Philippines to the competition. They compete against the top dance crews from over 30 nations, each determined to earn the championship title, cash and prizes at the Red Rock Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Thanks to the Philippine All-Stars, the first crew in the world to have bagged the world title twice in the Adult Division of the said competition (in 2006 and 2008), and prominent Filipinos in “America’s Best Dance Crew” winners Jabbawockeez and Poreotics and in the USA and Canada teams, the Philippines has now become one of the most reputable countries in terms of hip hop dance, winning the admiration of the international hip hop community. 

The potential to win is big. In the 2009 Varsity Division, Legit Status placed 7th out of 41 teams during preliminaries, and advanced to the finals. In 2010, Legit Status placed 6th out of 42. Last year, 2011, Legit Status made it to the finals round, ranking 5th overall out of 50.

This year, Legit Status has received an invitation from Hip Hop International to compete in two divisions: Varsity (18 and under) and Megacrew (composed of 15-40 members).

Legit Status was formed in 2009 by Coach Vimi Rivera, a core member of UP Streetdance Club’s The Crew. Rivera is also the current coach of the Skechers Streetdance Battle 2010 Champion La Salle Greenhills Airforce, NDC (National Dance Championship) 2011 champion CSB Romançon, and NDC 2011/2012 runner up AC Dance Troupe. 

The current line-up of Legit Status Varsity and Megacrew teams is composed of a mix of former members of the Legit Status Varsity teams that represented in 2009, 2010, and 2011 as well as handpicked members of the local hip hop dance community. These dancers represent top dance troupes in the Metro: LSGH Airforce, Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADS), ACDT, CSB Romançon, Poveda Enciende, ICA DT, Xavier Dance X, and La Salle Dance Company (LSDC). Most of the members are full-time students juggling school with frequent training sessions, yet these performers choose to remain devoted to their passion—dance. The team is seeking support to make their dreams of the bagging the championship for their country come true. 

Should you be interested in sponsoring Legit Status in their endeavors, please contact legitstatusonline@gmail.com or Gabby Dario at 09175709190.

Affiliated schools and dance groups of Legit Status and its alumni:

• De La Salle University (LSDC Street)
• University of the Philippines - Diliman (The Crew/UP Streetdance Club)
• De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (CSB Romançon)
• Ateneo de Manila University (Company of Ateneo Dancers)
• University of Santo Tomas (Thomasian AC&P)
• Xavier School (Dance X)
• Assumption San Lorenzo (AC Dance Troupe)
• Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA Dance Troupe)
• Colegio de San Agustin (CSA Dance Troupe)
• Claret School of Quezon City (Claret Hataw)
• La Salle Greenhills (LSGH Airforce)