KiiLo Dances His Way to Victory at Red Bull Dance Your Style East Qualifier in Boston (Recap)

Boston was buzzing this past weekend as Red Bull Dance Your Style took over the city for the East Qualifier, and the vibes were as electric as the footwork on the floor. On Saturday, August 9, Roadrunner Boston played host to 16 of the East Coast’s fiercest freestyle dancers, all battling head-to-head for the crowd’s vote — and two coveted spots at the National Final in San Francisco on August 23.

When the music stopped and the cheers erupted, KiiLo stood tall as the champion, defeating Boston hometown hero ILLana-Popz in an unforgettable final. Both dancers now have their eyes on San Francisco, where they’ll face the best from across the country for a shot at representing the USA at the World Finals in Los Angeles this fall.

Backstage with the trophy still in hand, KiiLo’s smile said it all.

“This meant a lot to me, honestly. I’ve been wanting this for so long… my energy’s still through the roof right now,” he told Celeb Secrets, still catching his breath from a night of round-after-round battles.

His winning strategy? Keep the mind clear, the body loose, and the energy high.

“I stay hydrated, I stretch, I work out, and I try to eat right. Most of all, I just go in there ready to have fun and be as free as possible. I hoped the crowd would embody my movement and my energy — and they did.”

Though this was his first trip to Boston, KiiLo connected with the city immediately — even getting a tour from ILLana-Popz before they went head-to-head.

“That moment in the finals was more than just a battle,” he shared. “She took the time to show me her city. It made the night even more special.”

 

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The energy didn’t just happen on Saturday night — it started Friday evening with the welcome party, a golden hour boat cruise around Boston’s Seaport. That’s where Celeb Secrets caught up with some of the weekend’s standout competitors, soaking up the sun, the skyline, and the camaraderie.

For King Luffy, a two-time National Finalist, the East Qualifier was more than just another stop.

“If I make it this year, I’d be the first dancer to make it to Nationals three years in a row without being an invite,” he said. “The pressure is definitely on. I feel like now is the time for me to actually win a trophy, so I’m coming here to win. I need a trophy this year.”

His mental approach? Adaptability.

“In Red Bull Dance Your Style, you could get a T-Pain song one round and Taylor Swift the next — and there’s no skipping tracks. You’ve gotta sell every song like it was made for you.”

New York Qualifier winner Arsenal came in with his trademark versatility and competitive edge.

“The run in New York was something special…. I’m just here for the experience, you know?” the dancer explained. “The head space for sure is just like, to have fun to, to entertain…to just have a good time, enjoy the experience and really embrace it. Live in the moment, like that type of vibe.”

“But like winning is cool, you know, it’s like a very valid thing to want, especially from a competition standpoint for sure. And I’m very competitive, so of course I wanna win, but like, I’m just here to have fun though, ultimately.” 

Rounding out the crew was Rylee Prodigy, who saw the event as a massive way to connect with her fellow dancers while showing the community her most authentic self.

“The thing I’m looking forward to the most would probably just be trying to put my authentic self out there,” the Philadelphia voguer said ahead of the contest. “[Red Bull] Dance Your Style is so unique and having the audience involved in that type of way is so unique, and to try to feel their energy too is great.”

“The Red Bull community is just a great way for us to connect with dancers from other cities, regions, and countries. It has become a way for us to really, again, connect and get to know each other on a different type of level as well, rather than it be all underground,” she continued. “We have to know somebody to know, somebody to get into a certain room to then do this dance style, so it has been, um, eye-opening for a lot of people that maybe don’t have access to these kind of dance styles and yeah. Oh, 

Hosted by Celtics in-arena hype queen Melisa Valdez and soundtracked by Boston’s own SuperSmashBroz, the night’s matchups were as unpredictable as the music. With no set playlists, no judges, and no pre-choreographed routines, every round was a high-wire act — freestyle at its purest.

KiiLo thrived under that pressure, locking eyes withpeople in the crowd and feeding off their reactions.

“Energy’s big for me,” he explained. “If I see someone vibing, I’ll dance right to them. It’s about scanning the whole room and feeding off what they give me.”

As the East’s top two prepare for the National Final, KiiLo is already visualizing the West Coast stage.

“It’ll be my first time in San Francisco. I know my friends there are gonna come with it, so I’ve gotta match that energy — or one-up it. My goal is to show the world what I can do.”

From his roots in Dominica to his home base in Houston, KiiLo’s dance is a fusion of cultures, styles, and pure passion. His long-term dream?

“I want to be globally known, for the world to see my passion — and yeah, I’d love a Red Bull sponsorship,”he laughed.

 

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Boston’s East Qualifier wasn’t just a competition — it was a celebration. From boat decks at sunset to a roaring crowd under the lights, it proved that Red Bull Dance Your Style is more than a series — it’s a community, a culture, and a movement. And in two weeks, San Francisco is about to feel exactly what the East Coast brings to the floor.

You can watch our full interviews with KiiLo, Rylee Prodigy, Arsenal, and King Luffy below and don’t forget to grab your tickets to the National Final here.

Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity. For more on Red Bull Dance Your Style, click here.