Filipino siblings Lexus Alejandro Castillo and Lorin Alexa Castillo, known as “The Castles,” have recently achieved significant success at the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA).
Residing in the UAE for the past two years, these young talents have made their mark on the international stage, earning several prestigious awards.
Lexus, 11, and Lorin, 9, both students in Grade 6 and Grade 5 respectively, have captivated audiences with their dance performances.
Reflecting on their journey, they shared with The Global Filipino Magazine, “Our Uncle Poyee created our name based on our last name, Castillo. We started dancing on TikTok as a hobby, but after moving to the UAE, our parents encouraged us to participate in competitions to overcome our shyness.”
Their first competition in Burjuman two years ago was the beginning of an exciting journey. It was through these local contests that their parents learned about WCOPA.
“We became interested in WCOPA because it’s a platform for international performers, a talent Olympic. It’s where popular artists like Junior New System and Jed Madela started,” said Lexus.
Balancing their studies and dance training was challenging, but with dedication and the support of their coach, Joey Danao, and the Melody Music Institute, they managed to excel.
“We practiced two hours a day. Thanks to Coach Joey Danao and Melody Music Institute for molding our talent,” they said.
The siblings relished the opportunity to travel to the USA and meet fellow performers from various countries.
“We met a lot of friends from different nationalities, especially our team, WCOPA Team UAE. We used to play and meet in the hotel every day,” Lorin recalled.
One of the highlights for The Castles was the boot camp, where they learned from popular dance choreographers and danced alongside Junior New System.
“They shared their experiences and how they made it to America’s Got Talent,” they added.
Their hard work paid off, as they brought home an impressive collection of awards:
- WCOPA Grand Finalists Gold Medal
- WCOPA Semi-Finalists Gold
- WCOPA Hip-hop Dance Category Gold
- WCOPA Open Dance Category Gold
- WCOPA Photo Modeling Silver
- WCOPA Division Champion Gold Plaque
Looking ahead, Lexus and Lorin have no concrete plans but are open to future competitions.
“If there is an opportunity to join another contest here in the UAE or other countries, we will again do our best to prepare,” said Lexus.
Their advice for other dreamers? “Work hard and never stop dreaming. Prayers help a lot. We never thought that dancing would bring us to the USA. Making it to the WCOPA Grand Finals is an amazing experience and achievement. If we can do it, others can too. There are many opportunities for growth, and it doesn’t matter when or where you start, what matters is that you begin,” they encouraged.