Before the Battle: How James Airey Became
slayer
Words MIRANNE WATLEY // Images by EMILY ALMODOVAR // Photo Assist SHOKIRIE CLARKE
Zurich is about to be taken over by dancers! On October 24th the Red Bull Dance Your Style 2026 World Final will hit Switzerland's capital city. The week leading up to it will be filled with dance workshops, panels (one with last year’s winner), a run club (they really have thought of everything), and pre-finals to determine which 8 of the 62 national champions will qualify for the final battles. The competition promises Red Bull’s signature bold song choices, eclectic mix of dance styles (it is Dance Your Style after all), and a winner, true to form, chosen by the crowd. James Airey, who goes by Slayer, won the national final in London earlier this year and will be representing the UK in Zurich at only 19 years old.
“Since moving down to London and being at Rambert, I’ve felt that my battling has been a bit more experimental, a bit more creative, which I’m really happy about.”
Outside the Red Bull Office in Central London, MOVES spoke to Slayer about his feelings on the upcoming competition, and how he’s preparing for the massive event. “I’m looking forward to just showing the crowd who I am… I’m excited”. He reflected on how he’s been grounding himself in the lead up to Zurich, reminding himself to “stay true” to who he is and “not force any movement” that doesn’t feel authentic.
Amidst a lot of very noisy construction (gotta love London), he also discussed his unique dance background. He grew up surrounded by partner dancing, before finding his love for popping and street styles. This was followed by ballet and contemporary, which he is currently training in his second year of university at Rambert School. “Training at a ballet and contemporary university everyday and then trying to switch to this popping battle mindset is… a battle to say the least, pun intended…but I’m feeling ready and I’m feeling excited”. Balancing different forms of movement has been pivotal in his training. “I’ve always had the mindset that any style of dance helps, no matter what”.
And this genuine love of movement comes across in his battles. “I’ve always been a big performer when I dance”. Slayer is all about embodying the crowd’s energy, feeding the fervor, and having fun. “I’ve sometimes lost because I’ve been too busy singing a song and performing… but I like pleasing the audience”. Fitting for Red Bull’s crowd vote battle format, the easy joy that he expresses in his dancing makes it easy to see how he won over the UK; He perfectly embodies the performance and play that sits at the intersection of all forms of movement.
Can you introduce yourself?
“My name is James, but I’m known as Slayer in the dance scene. I’m a ballet and contemporary student and also a popper.
My teacher came up with the name a while back, basically just said that I was slaying everyone, and it stuck. There’s people I’ve known for over 10 years that still call me Slayer.”
What’s your training and background in dance?
“My parents met at a partner dance class, so I grew up with salsa and modern jive. But I also got into popping quite young. I was told by a few friends that I should consider ballet and contemporary to improve my popping and the more I did those styles, the more I realised there was a future in them. I decided to audition for Rambert School, and that’s why I’m here in London.”
How does your training at Rambert help your popping?
“Since moving down to London and being at Rambert, I’ve felt that my battling has been a bit more experimental, a bit more creative, which I’m really happy about. I’m liking the way it’s moving… and there’s some technique coming through. It’s still a work in progress, and I think it will be for the rest of my life, but I’m going to keep training and keep trying to build connections between styles.”
“Training at a ballet and contemporary university everyday and then trying to switch to this popping battle mindset is… a battle to say the least, pun intended…but I’m feeling ready and I’m feeling excited”
Who are some of your most impactful mentors?
“Biggest popping one is Taiwo. He likes to claim no credit, but that’s just the guy he is. He’s really guided me as a dancer, and as a person, so massive shoutout to Taiwo.”
What was your favourite moment from the Red Bull Dance Your Style UK Final (where you qualified for Zurich)?
“After the first round that I won, my friend was leaning over and shouting at me. I don’t really know what he was saying but I got his energy and that was a really beautiful moment.
And then hugging my parents. I was grateful that they came down and I wanted to make them proud. They say oh you’ll always make us proud but obviously I wanted to just… do great.”
How are you currently feeling about the World Final and representing the UK on (literally) an international stage?
“It’s definitely going to be insane when I get over there (to Zurich) and realise the scale of it. You get used to the people that you see in your own country. Of course people have different styles, but at the end of the day you’ve all been nurtured in the same area, so there’s a similar vibe. When you go international it’s a completely different ballgame. But I’m feeling ready and I’m feeling excited. I’m looking forward to just showing the crowd who I am.”
What do you think Red Bull’s platform has done for dancers?
“Red Bull have been amazing, they’ve done bits for the dance community. Big up Red Bull.
Obviously it’s not quite the battle culture, but I also appreciate that it has to be for the public and the wider audience. It’s probably brought so many more people to dance.”
What inspires you the most at Red Bull battles?
“It would have to be the music. If you get a song you love then you can really perform on stage, there’s that spontaneity. And there’s the edge where, if you don’t know the song, you have to figure it out because the other person is singing along.”
Are there any songs you’d love to hear in battles more?
“I really love Ring My Bell by Anita Ward and Dr. Beat by Miami Sound Machine. Soulful, funky, quirky and expressive. I really like those songs, that’s the kind of vibe I’d want more of at a battle.
Sometimes I’ve lost because I’ve been too busy singing a song and performing… but I like singing to the audience, I like being a crowd-pleaser.”
What are you doing to prepare for Zurich?
“I’m stretching, a lot actually. Like a lot. In the semi finals of Red Bull, Hannah did a back bend and I was thinking lord I can’t do that at all. So I’ve been practising a back bend.
Also listening to music that I wouldn’t normally listen to, because I’m not on Tik Tok. They play a lot of Tik Tok songs so I need to be up to date.
And then with me training at a ballet and contemporary school, I’m creating little sets and links to different styles. I’m just sweating everyday. Sweating.”
“When you look at the high level, you’ll have dancers where it doesn’t matter who they’re against, they know they’re going to win… even if they don’t. There’s that energy, that aura, it’s just that confidence in themselves. If they don’t believe it then no one else will.”
What are you usually doing right before a battle?
“I lock into a flow state. Obviously with battling there’s a big cypher culture, but I’ve never done that. I like to be alone. I’ll take a step outside, I’ll breathe, I’ll do a bit of warming up to make sure that I don’t injure myself, but I’ve never been one to go ham before. I just let it happen.”
What do you think separates a good battler from a great one?
“The belief. When you look at the high level, you’ll have dancers where it doesn’t matter who they’re against, they know they’re going to win… even if they don’t. There’s that energy, that aura, that confidence in themselves. If they don’t believe it then no one else will.”