Funk Baptism

Step into Felix Meritis for Funk Baptism, where music, movement, and community take over. On this day, we resurrect James Brown’s spirit, Aretha Franklin’s Soul, Betty Davis’s magic, and the explosive energy of Parliament-Funkadelic. Their legacy passed on and reimagined with the unmistakable signature of Amsterdam’s own Ghetto Funk Collective. Get baptized in the funkiest sounds, the wildest dance battles, groovy cyphers, unique show cases, tasty food and great vibes!

Choose Your Experience

We offer two different tickets for two different experiences:

Complete-ticket: with a Complete-ticket, your baptism starts in the afternoon,where the battle is on. Jump in as a dancer or cheer on the crowd as a spectator. Join in on cyphers, grab a bite and dive into our Retro Corner. Stick around until the very end with the same ticket.

NOTE! Are you a competing dancer? Come early! Battle registration opens at 14:00. The program starts at 15:30.

Evening ticket: Get an Evening-ticket and join us at 19:30 for The Final Battle, unique showcases by Illnoledge, Funky Femme and more. We close the night with a groove-soaked afterparty!

About Ghetto Funk Collective

Ghetto Funk Collective is an Amsterdam-based crew of dancers, musicians, and DJs united by a deep love for funk. Inspired by the spirit of the ’70s, they give funk a fresh, contemporary twist. Their mission: to keep funk culture alive and get new generations moving. From their signature club night Dancing Machine at Paradiso to collaborations with The Ruggeds performing their hit show Groove, as well as choreographing music videos for artists like Jungle, they carry the legacy of James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye into the present.

In Funk We Trust DANCE BATTLE

This All-Style Battle invites – you guessed it – all dancers and all movements, whether you come from Hiphop, house, breaking, vogue, contemporary or your own unique groove. We’ll take care of the Funky beats. Between the battles, the floor opens up for cyphers: open circles where anyone who feels like it is invited to move!

Judges

Roché Apinsa

Roché Apinsa is a Dutch dancer, choreographer, and creative leader with over 21 years of experience in funk and street dance culture. He co-founded the Ghetto Funk Collective in Amsterdam, a group known for its innovative performances and global impact. Roché has appeared at major events like Juste Debout, Summer Dance Forever, and Funkin’ Stylez. Beyond performing, he mentors dancers and promotes authenticity in the arts. His choreographic work includes Jungle’s “Good Times/Problemz” and projects with De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig. At the Mind Body & Soul School of Art, he nurtures creativity and artistic expression.

Sarada Sarita

Sarada Sarita is an award winning professional dancer, choreographer, theater maker, teacher & coach and started waacking (also known as punking/posing/whacking) in 2009 falling deeply in love with this free form of expression. She studied in NYC and travelled the world learning and sharing her love for this style, culture and community. As a result she has many Waacking Titles on her name and is invited as a judge for events and workshops internationally. As one of the first in her country The Netherlands she takes her role as trailblazer/pioneer to heart protecting and preserving it in the best way possible. Sarada Sarita also started combining her theaterwork and artist creations with her love for waacking. In 2020 she created the first ever W”acking theater performance turned into an award winning movie that got released in 2024, now screening across the world named Q5; The Quintessentials!

Yanay Bonomo
Yanay Bonomo is a dancer, coach, and teacher with a deep love for Popping — a dance style that, for him, never stands still. As a member of The Ghetto Funk Collective and The Kulture Kids, he moves at the heart of the Dutch street dance scene. He has performed on stages such as Paradiso, the Amsterdam and Rotterdam city theaters, the Jaarbeurs, and appeared in shows like Move Like Michael Jackson, Everybody Dance Now, and as a finalist at Summer Dance Forever. For Yanay, Popping is more than just technique, it’s a way to truly get to know your body. “You learn to listen to sounds you didn’t hear before. Everything clicks into place: your movement, your musicality, your feeling.” His classes focus on depth, musicality, and freedom of expression. No tricks, just real connection with your body and the music.

MC ‘Dancing Machine’

Patrick has been dancing since childhood, inspired by his grandmother’s music and icons like James Brown and Michael Jackson. With over 35 years of experience in dance and martial arts and more than 15 years as a professional performer, he has built a versatile career across television, theater, and international stages. His breakthrough came through Voguing in 2007, leading to a role as dancer, teacher, judge, and host across Europe and Asia. Under his alias MC Dancing Machine, he now hosts battles, parties, and events, continuing to unite audiences and remain a driving force in the global street and club dance community.

Ruben Chi

Ruben Chi is a movement artist and choreographer known for his dynamic style rooted in street dance, with influences from jazz and soul. As the winner of Summer Dance Forever 2019 (Locking) and a five-time Juste Debout Holland champion, he has earned recognition as one of the world’s top lockers.

Co-founder of Amsterdam’s Ghetto Funk Collective, Ruben seamlessly blends street dance culture with theatre, film, and live performance. His work pushes the boundaries of dance, combining deep musicality with storytelling and modern expression.His acclaimed works — including Groove (with The Ruggeds) and It’s On The One — reflect his commitment to honor the foundations of the culture while reimagining its future.

In Funk We Trust Showcase

Two dancers and two musicians are paired to create together throughout the day. The pairings are announced during the battle’s opening. Their authentic work is revealed in a unique showcase. In the evening, they take over a space in Felix Meritis with pure improvisation and the power of the moment.

Illnoledge
Illnoledge is a duo of brothers Steve Hartley and Mill Voyance, producers and composers. Rooted in a rich musical upbringing and inspired by their Caribbean heritage, they have developed a unique sound they call “Akan Fu” — an acronym for A Kulture Attuning to Nature for Unification. This style blends afrobeat, soul, Latin, jazz, and reggae, creating hypnotic heartbeat rhythms, mystical melodies, and cryptic lyrics that convey a deep spiritual and cultural philosophy.

Mill Voyance is a producer, composer and cosmic warrior. Member of Illlnoledge. Being raised in a musical family from the West Indies, as the youngest of 6 siblings, he got baptized in music at a very young age, he developed a deep love and understanding of syncopated rhythmic patterns and sophisticated harmonies, seeing it as a form of universal communication.
Steve Hartley is a producer, composer and cosmic warrior. Other half of Illnoledge. Hailing from a musical family from the West Indies, where music was the main the language, he developed a deep love and understanding of “the groove” and sophisticated harmonies, seeing music as a cosmic language and a bridge to other dimensions.

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Skychief

The man who flies from the Netherlands with proud African roots, Virgil, also known as Skychief, is a high-level, multi-talented performer with years of experience in dance, theater, and movement. A professional international B-Boy and skilled practitioner of the free-flowing style of house dancing, Virgil earned his name “Skychief” for his breathtaking, high-flying acrobatics and gravity-defying movements. Virgil’s body moves with the dynamic elasticity of a living, rhythmic force, effortlessly contorting into extraordinary shapes and gliding unpredictably across stages.

A core member of the internationally acclaimed performance and breaking crew The Ruggeds, Virgil has toured globally with their hit theater show Adrenaline and graced the stages of numerous theater festivals, competitions, and television programs. Adding to his creative portfolio, Virgil is a versatile DJ who blends a wide range of electronic music, with a focus on house and percussion-driven sounds, crafting sets that captivate and energize any crowd. He’s also an experienced model, having worked with numerous brands, and has honed his acting skills in various projects. Confident, calm, and brimming with spring-loaded energy, Virgil consistently delivers unforgettable performances, embodying artistry and athleticism every time he takes the stage.

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Wennah Wilkers

Wennah Wilkers (geboren in 1992 in Tarlac City, Filipijnen) is een Nederlands-Filipijnse danser en choreograaf, opgegroeid in Amsterdam. Ze is onderdeel van XGEN, een house dance crew die internationaal actief is in battles en theater. Wennah studeerde Urban Contemporary aan de Academie voor Theater en Dans in Amsterdam. Ze staat bekend om haar unieke stijl waarin ze hedendaagse en house dans moeiteloos met elkaar verweeft.

Eerdere producties van Wennah werden geprezen en getoond op podia zoals het Maaspodium, Theater Rotterdam, Over ‘t IJ Festival, Breakin’ Convention Netherlands Tour, One Night’s Dance and Soulcypher Dance Festival. Zij rondde de Nieuwe Makersregeling af in 2024 en speelde haar productie Our House (ism Lloyds Company) op verschillende plekken in Nederland. In 2025 deed Wennah mee met het Next Steps, een samenwerking tussen ISH Dance Collective en Het Nationale Ballet en is nu op tour met haar nieuwste productie Rooted/ Pinanggagalingan.

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Funky Femme Showcase

Funky Femme Project is a collective of young women in the Netherlands who share a deep passion for funk, created by Charley Hennessy. Their mission is to inspire other women to embrace the funk. By highlighting the talent of their female dancers, they celebrate the fun and spirit of funk while honoring the strength and beauty of women. With this project, they aim to create a brighter future where more women in funk can connect and shine together.

Would you like to attend this program, but don’t have the means to pay for a ticket? Send an email to info@felixmeritis.nl, we can work something out.