Dance First woman from Switzerland at the Street Dance World Final in LA
For the first time, a woman will represent Switzerland at the World Street Dance Final. 31-year-old Sheila Silva from Villeneuve in the canton of Vaud will be competing for Switzerland in Los Angeles on October 11.
11.10.2025, 06:30
SDA
The decision was made on August 31 in Zurich at the packed Kaufleuten. After four exciting duels against the best street dancers in Switzerland, Sheila Silva won the national final of Red Bull Dance Your Style 2025.
Her national victory marks a turning point. Never before has a woman represented Switzerland in this global street dance competition. "It's not pressure, it's pride," Sheila Silva told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
After a six-year break
"I was so surprised," admits the young woman of Portuguese origin. "I only started dancing again a year and a half ago, after a long break. I never expected this victory."
16 dancers took part in the Swiss final. The audience chose the winner by applause. Sheila Silva prevailed against the defending champion Pakissi, a hip-hop dancer from Lausanne.
Sheila Silva has been dancing since she was a child. She began by taking classes with scene legend Mamadou Kalombo, aka Mams, from Vevey. "I was 12 years old and immediately hooked. I discovered new style hip-hop, house, dancehall and afrobeat. All these styles shape my dance style today."
Until 2019, she performed in numerous shows, on stages and at battles in Switzerland and abroad. "Then I had to change direction. I gave up dancing." This was followed by a break that lasted six years.
While she worked in a daycare center, she never completely stopped dancing: "I danced at home. But I was far away from the battles, the stage, that energy." The return was not easy. "It's not easy to find your place again and to believe in yourself again. But I had the feeling that it was the right time."
When cultures collide
In Switzerland, street dance is still a rather inconspicuous but passionate milieu. Sheila Silva grew up in this environment. "I was lucky enough to be on stage in Vevey, Lausanne and Geneva at a very young age. There's a great energy, but it's a small world."
She emphasizes how important it is to open up internationally. "I've attended several workshops in New York and danced battles in France, Portugal and Spain. These are important experiences for making progress and being inspired by what is being done elsewhere." In her opinion, urban dance unfolds its full meaning when styles and cultures come together.
Sheila Silva is traveling to Los Angeles, accompanied by the Red Bull team, with whom she will refine her show on location. In the run-up to the show, she will continue her training sessions with Mams, who has won several street dance competitions in Switzerland.
She also works regularly with Girl StreetBuck, a dancer who specializes in krump, a hip-hop dance that originated in the ghettos of Los Angeles and inspires her "enormously": "We've been dancing together since my early days. She was part of her former group 'Effect Crew'."
Inspiration for the next generation
As the first woman to represent Switzerland in the street dance world final, Sheila Silva hopes to inspire the next generation. "To those who are just starting out, I would say: don't limit yourself. Choose your environment carefully and, above all, believe in yourself."
Sheila also emphasizes the importance of learning at good schools. "To make progress, you need a solid foundation and good teachers." Street dance is part of hip-hop culture and not just a series of moves: "There is a real story behind every style."
After Los Angeles, everything is open. "I want to enjoy this adventure to the full. Then I'll see what life has in store for me. One thing is certain: dance will always be part of my life."
