Gariseb makes history at global dance finals

Dance Sport
Geneva de Jager
  • 10 Hours Ago

Namibian street dance icon Zacharia Xallamo Gariseb entered his name into the nation’s sporting and cultural history books over the weekend, becoming the first-ever Namibian representative to compete at the prestigious Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final, held in Zürich, Switzerland last Saturday.

Gariseb represented Namibia alongside nearly 60 national champions from across the globe.

The grand finale unfolded in front of a sold-out crowd of approximately 7,500 enthusiastic fans at the Hallenstadion in Zürich.

Red Bull Dance Your Style stands as the premier global mixed-style street dance competition, where top international dancers face off in one-on-one battles set to unexpected, unpredictable mainstream music hits ranging from hip-hop and house to local pop beats.

Unlike traditional dance competitions governed by formal panel judging, the tournament features a unique crowd-led format. The live audience acts as the sole jury, voting with colour-coded wristbands after every round to decide who advances.

These circumstances demand immense crowd engagement, adaptability, and performance charisma from every competitor on stage.


Road to Zürich and Top-32 finish

Gariseb’s journey to the main stage was forged through a qualification process. The international season spanned 167 qualifying events hosted worldwide, bringing roughly 60 national champions to the Pre-Finals at the Schiffbau venue in Zürich from 21 to 22 October to compete for the final spots in the elite showdown.

Competing against the world’s most versatile dancers, Gariseb reached the top 32, proudly showcasing his signature style Amapanzola, an energetic fusion of traditional pantsula and amapiano dance culture.

His expressive routines and rhythmic precision resonated powerfully on the international platform, proving that Namibian street dance possesses the technical execution and creative flair to contend at the highest global levels.


Landmark achievement

for Namibian dance culture

The overall 2026 World Final title was ultimately claimed by 16-year-old French hip-hop phenom Willis, who edged out South Korea's renowned waacking specialist Yoon Ji in a thrilling final battle.

However, Gariseb's performance remains a watershed moment for domestic street dance in Namibia.

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