For the first time, Filipino dance collective, BAWZ, will represent the Philippines at the International Dance League (IDL) Community Division in Seoul, South Korea. Ahead of its international campaign, the dance team will hold BAWZ STAGE VOL. 4, which is an annual fundraising concert happening on July 25, 2026 (Saturday) at the SM North EDSA Skydome.

Founded by the creators of STEEZY, the International Dance League (IDL) is recognized as the world's first professional dance league, bringing together elite dance teams from around the globe in a multi-city competition modeled after professional sports leagues. This year, BAWZ will compete in the Community Division alongside seven other teams from across Southeast Asia.

Established in 2019, BAWZ has steadily built its name through both local and international competitions while fostering a community of dancers united by performance, collaboration, and creative expression. The team is led by Aennon Tabungar, founder of BAWZ and captain of Jam Republic SEA, one of the competing teams in IDL's Pro Division.

"Being able to represent the Philippines on an international stage is something we don't take lightly," Tabungar said. "Every competition reminds us that we're carrying not just our team, but the entire Filipino dance community with us."

To support its journey to Seoul and its upcoming competitions, BAWZ STAGE VOL. 4 brings together some of the country's most respected dance crews, including TPM, And Friends, ILLKNGDM, 10TATIVE, XYZ, KKV, The Manoeuvres, and Team BRRRT. Members of Jam Republic SEA will also be joining the event, with select dancers taking the stage for individual performances in support of the fundraiser.

More than raising funds for the team's international competitions, this year's production centers on the lived experiences of dance artists in the Philippines. Through choreography and storytelling, the concert explores the realities of pursuing dance professionally—from the sacrifices made behind every performance to the resilience that continues to define the local dance community.

"We wanted the concert to tell a story that many dancers will recognize," Tabungar shared. "There are struggles that audiences don't always get to see, but there's also strength in knowing that we're never pursuing this dream alone. The community has always been our greatest source of support."

The concert will also support BAWZ's second roster, which is expected to represent the Philippines at another international dance competition later this year.

Beyond its competitive teams, BAWZ continues to grow its community through BAWZ Complex, the group's Quezon City-based dance studio. During the concert, students from BAWZ Complex Summer Dance Camp Year II will take the stage to showcase the pieces they have trained and prepared for under the guidance of the studio's instructors.

For Tabungar, nurturing the next generation of dancers is just as meaningful as competing on an international stage.

"We've always believed that dance should be accessible to everyone who wants to learn," he said. "Whether someone dreams of becoming a world champion or simply wants a place where they belong, that's what we're trying to build at BAWZ Complex."

As BAWZ prepares to step onto one of dance's biggest international stages, the team hopes its journey will inspire and encourage more Filipino dancers to pursue opportunities beyond the country's borders while remaining rooted in the community that has helped shape them.

Tickets for BAWZ STAGE VOL. 4 are available through BAWZ members and via the link in the group's official Instagram account, @bawz.ph.