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World of Dance title still alive for Tsawwassen dancer

GRVMNT Hip Hop crew off to semifinals
World of Dance
Tsawwassen Hip Hop dancer Emily Sun, front row, centre, is off to the semifinals of the World of Dance.

Tsawwassen Hip Hop dancer Emily Sun is off to the semifinals of the World of Dance.

The 17-year-old captain of dance crew GRVMNT, earned their spot in the next round of the competition by beating out The Young Cast, a dance crew from Quebec, in the duels round on the July 21st episode of the hit NBC series.

After an intense battle in the callbacks stage, an episode that aired on June 23, GRVMNT was all business last Tuesday night in a battle with The Young Cast that judge Jennifer Lopez says was one of the fierce and closest of the competition to date.

“Both of you guys stepped it up to the next level at the callbacks so I’m not surprised that you are here,” she said. “I didn’t know you two groups had this in you. It was world-class.”

GRVMNT’s performance was choreographed to the hit smash Godzilla from Eminem, a piece that Sun says the dance crew is very familiar with and is one of their favourites to perform too.

World of Dance 1
The 17-year-old captain of dance crew GRVMNT, earned their spot in the next round of the competition by beating out The Young Cast, a dance crew from Quebec, in the duels round on the July 21st episode of the hit NBC series. - Courtesy MPRM Communications

“The Young Cast and our team has been competing against each other for quite a few years, so when we first saw each other walk through the door, we were shocked, scared – they had really intimidating faces and we were nervous,” said Sun in an interview with the Optimist on Friday. “We all want each other to succeed, but because we were competing against each other, you have to fight for that spot.”

Sun said from the callback round to the duel round, GRVMNT worked non-stop to perfect their routine and bring their performance to an even higher level.

“One of the comments the judges gave us during the callbacks was to focus whoever is in the front, so going into the duels we focused on that and especially going into the duels, we love the Eminem song, we love to dance to that and we knew we had to leave everything on the floor and give everything we had on the stage,” she said. “We know what Young Cast has, their ability, their skill, so we had to show what we do best.”

Lopez called GRVMNT’s performance “excellent” saying that their routine might be the record for the most moves in a minute and a half.

Judge Derek Hough said “you guys came here ready to play,” while judge Ne-Yo said it was high quality and just a “solid’ performance.

When the judges’ choice was revealed, Hough voted for The Young Cast and Lopez voted for GRVMNT leaving the deciding vote to Ne-Yo.

“We were so happy to hear the results,” said Sun. “It was suspenseful. Everyone was shaking and clinching their hands and then to hear Ne-Yo say GRVMNT, it was amazing for us. It’s unbelievable that we get to move onto the next round.”

GRVMNT will be back on the program in two weeks – Aug. 4 – when the semifinal rounds begin. World of Dance airs at 10 p.m. (pacific) Tuesday nights on NBC.