Energy surged through the Hilton Hotel outdoor amphitheater as 28 talented dancers battled it out in the first-ever Mtn Dew All-Style Dance Battle, hosted by none other than the 2024 Hip-Hop World Best Dance Crew, WAN SQUAD. The event marked a major milestone in PNG’s growing urban dance movement, drawing over 350 plus passionate spectators in a thrilling celebration of rhythm, passion, and youth culture. Unlike any dance event before it, the Mtn Dew All-Style Battle fused TikTok-era creativity with raw street talent, spotlighting dancers from Lae to Port Moresby. Each participant stepped into a 1v1 arena, performing for one electrifying minute per round, with a total of 4 minutes per battle, adapting on the fly to the DJ’s drops and crowd energy. The atmosphere was electric from the first round. Early crowd favorites OSCAR and RIRI dazzled with precision and flair, but it was Jackson Som from Lae whose explosive energy and undeniable stage presence powered him through to the finals. In a gripping showdown against Joby from Port Moresby, Jackson pushed through an intense third round, winning by anonymous judges' decision to be crowned champion of the inaugural Mountain Dew All-Style Battle. “I didn’t even know about the competition until my brother saw the post on Facebook,” Jackson shared after his win. “But I’ve put in the work. Even when my family didn’t support my passion, I kept pushing and perfecting my art.” This wasn’t just a dance competition—it was a movement. Beyond the footwork, the battle showcased fashion, identity, and a deep sense of community and self-expression. Speaking at the event, Nathaniel Lepani, National Marketing Manager for Pacific Industries Limited, expressed the bigger vision behind this ground-breaking initiative. “Every time we host the Mtn Dew One Squad PNG National Dance Championships, we see the talent, the energy, the passion. With the Mtn Dew All-Style Battle, we wanted to give dancers from all genres a formal platform to shine. This is more than just a competition—it’s about empowering youth, giving them purpose, and building a movement that’s here to stay.” He added, “We’re not just recognizing talent, we’re inspiring it. This is just the beginning. We see this growing into a national phenomenon, with regional qualifiers, bigger stages, and even greater opportunities for PNG’s dance community, supported by our Mtn Dew brand.” Apart from the 28 individual dancers who battled in the 1v1 face-off, two Port Moresby crews took the stage for the opening performance. One was the well-known crew THE RESISTANCE, featuring members from the Arts Theater Activist group, and the other was MIN-G, made up entirely of Port Moresby international students. Both crews lit up the crowd, keeping everyone on their toes with electrifying performances—especially MIN-G, who wowed the audience with a remixed version of Kendrick Lamar's “Not Like Us. The event was successful through the possible generous support of both partners and sponsors namely, Hilton Hotel – Venue Partner, Event Techz – Technical Partner (Sound) and Trophy Haus – Trophy Sponsor To conclude Nathaniel expressed gratitude by thanking the Wan Squad Dance Crew for their outstanding hosting and leadership, and most importantly—to the community, fans, and spectators who came out in full force to support the youth and celebrate PNG’s vibrant dance culture.