Chesterfield street dancer set to represent UK on world stage at final of prestigious Red Bull competition - after recovering from collapsed lungs last year

James Airey is a 19-year-old popper (a type of street dancer) from Chesterfield - who is getting ready to fly that flag for the UK on the global stage.

He will be competing for the UK at the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final 2026 in Zurich - which is taking place between October 21 - October 24.

James, who performs under the name ‘Slayer’, has already claimed world championships in different styles of dance - and his passion was something that was passed down from parents.

He said: “My parents met at a salsa class, so I was around them dancing from a young age - parlour dancing was a big thing and I saw my parents doing that. On holiday, I saw a Michael Jackson tribute and I wanted to dance like him. I watched YouTube videos of poppers dancing to his music, and fell in love with it from there. I went to a local dance school to train and that’s how it all started.

“I won the under 16 world popping championships at the age of 10, and I was doing street dance competitions from the age of around 9. After winning that, I transitioned into the battle scene - that was more appealing to me and I got drawn into that. I also competed in parlour dancing and modern jive, winning the world modern jive championships at 15 as well.”

In 2025, James underwent urgent pleurodesis surgeries after suffering two partially collapsed lungs - something that he feared could have a huge impact on his dancing career.

He said: “My first partially collapsed lung happened on the way home from a ballet class in Leeds. I went to judge a competition two weeks after, and the second I got home, my lung collapsed again - I kept trying to do these dancing things and my body was just preventing me.

“I needed to have the surgery and pause for a little while to get it fixed, even though stopping is very hard for me, I always want to keep moving. I’ve been dancing and moving my whole life, so that was the first time ever that it had been completely shut down. It was extremely mentally challenging as well, but I’m so lucky that I have such a great family. It reminded me how much they do for me, and how much I appreciate them.

“Looking back, it’s easy to say that I pushed through it and it was fine. I’m an extremely optimistic person and I want to say it like that, but it was extremely hard. There were times when I thought I wouldn’t be able to dance again. I didn’t know what the repercussions would be, because everyone’s recovery is different.

“After the first surgery, I had six weeks before I was fully back to dancing again. That took quite a while and that was the hardest part, along with the fact that there was another surgery to go. My mum then said, ‘you've got another one to go, but that’s the only one left’ - so there was a shift in mentality and the recovery from the second surgery was much better and more optimistic.”

Just weeks after his second surgery, James had returned to competing and reached the semi-final of his first competition back. James hoped that the resilience he had shown during this difficult period might help to inspire and motivate others who have suffered the same condition.

He said: “I entered a battle, against medical advice, four or five weeks after my second surgery, and I made the semi-final. I wanted to win but that was a bit too much. I was sensible and didn’t do anything crazy, and then I was back to it after that.

“I got through my lungs collapsing, and for me, it’s a very powerful thing to be able to use to help me get through other things. I’ve shared my story about recovering from this, to hopefully help people going through the same thing to use that as motivation. It’s important to show that, despite having something as serious as this, you can still get through it and be great at whatever you want to do.”

James continued his progress and in May, following two previous efforts that were cut short due to circumstances out of his control, he claimed the title at the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Final UK - the event that ensured his qualification for the world final in Zurich.

He said: “It was emotional after such a long process. At 16 I won a regional qualifier to get through to the UK national final, but was disqualified as you had to be 18 or over. When I turned 18, I was asked to be a wild card, which meant you automatically qualify for the top 16 in the final - but then my lungs collapsed and I had to turn that down.

“When I came back and won, it felt like a massive milestone after everything I had gone through. That’s in the past - I won’t forget about it, but I’m moving on from it. I definitely felt like a weight was lifted off me after that competition.

“All my friends and family were there too, which was really beautiful. I don’t like bringing my friends to battles, because I’m so worried that I’ll bring them all that way and then I might get knocked out in the first round. I can take that, but If I’m bringing them all that way, I want them to see me win or get through a lot of rounds.

“I was grateful that they all got to come and support me, and saw me win as well. Red Bull held an afterparty as well, so we had a great night, and it was just a beautiful experience.”

The Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final is now on the horizon for James. This is a 1 vs 1 freestyle dance battle competition, where dancers improvise to surprise tracks. With no judges calling the shots, it’s the audience who decides the winner - with dancers competing for the loudest cheers.

James added that, after everything he has gone through, winning the world final would be incredible - and he plans to embrace and enjoy the experience of competing in Zurich.

He said: “That would be unbelievable. I can’t even think about it, because at each stage I’m battling a winner from another country. If it did happen, I’d have to sleep for a long time, after all the Red Bulls I would consume over that week and the adrenaline that would pump through me if I won.

“It would be insane to win, I wouldn’t even know what the next step would be. Of course, it's a competition and I’ll try my hardest, but it will be a beautiful experience to dance with and against the world’s best, and that’s what I’m excited for.”

The Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final will be streamed on Red Bull TV, YouTube and TikTok. On YouTube, your vote also helps to decide who takes home the title. Previous editions of the event were held in Paris, Johannesburg, Frankfurt, Mumbai and Los Angeles.

For more information, head to the Red Bull website here: https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/events/red-bull-dance-your-style-world-final-2026-zurich