The Philippines' JNS Dance Crew Compete for Gold at WCOPA 2016

The Junior New System (JNS) is an all-Filipino dance crew of young boys formed in 2009, which gives a new twist to the hip-hop dance. They are best known as one of the Grand Finalists of the first season of "Asia's Got Talent" having captured the international audience by giving hip-hop their own flair.

Being professional dancers is more than a dream come true for the JNS Dance Crew whose twelve members were literally taken off the streets. Members came from poor families, some dirt poor, relegated to selling whatever products they could in outdoor markets. Some couldn't afford a decent meal and had to leave school in order to work. These kids were virtually living on the streets. One day, choreographer and manager Marcial Visda found the scrappy youngsters repeating the choreography of dance numbers while he was rehearsing outdoors with his older established dance crew New System. Visda took the street kids under his wing even providing money and housing for some while teaching them to dance so they would have something valuable to sell to support their families, and not get involved with the drug trade on the streets. This is how the JNS Dance Crew journey as a professional dance troupe began, allowing the members to make money able to support themselves as well as their families.

Having won many awards and peoples' hearts, they have come to the United States to try their luck on the world stage by competing against talent from 50+ countries in the 20th Annual World Championships of the Performing Arts being held this week in Long Beach, CA culminating with the Finals Competition ShowFriday - July 15th from 7 pm - 9 pm, at the Terrace Theater - Long Beach Convention and Performing Arts Center.

During their interviews to obtain travel visas, the consul asked one of the JNS Dance Crew Members why he is only in 10th grade when he is 19 years old. In broken English he replied that it is only now, since he has been earning money dancing, that he is able to afford an education. Another JNS crew member was asked how many are there in his family. He answered "6" and he takes care of all of them, putting food on the table and sending them to school. He didn't have parents to rely on. Another JNS Dance Crew member sold banana fritters in the wet market as his "day job". He is happy now because he can provide for his family, "My family can now eat three times a day". As the 12 JNS Dance Crew Members' stories were told one after another - the consul held back tears. She was so moved by the sincerity of these young boys they were all granted US visas. As they thanked the consul she told them, "Make your country proud, boys!"

And proud they will as witnessed in the JNS Dance Crew's recent rehearsal for World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) 2016.

For more information about World Championships of Performing Arts please visit www.wcopa.com

For more about JNS DANCE CREW please visit http://www.juniornewsystem.com/