UPeepz dances to "Bebot" by Black Eyed Peas - World of Dance Semi-Finals

NBC

The dance crew UPeepz represented the Philippines in 'World of Dance 2020.'

UPeepz, the hip-hop crew from Manila, finished strong in the World of Dance semi-finals Monday but were barely edged out and didn't qualify for the Wednesday (Aug. 13) night finals.

The dancers chose "Bebot" by the Black Eyed Peas to showcase their dance moves and their cultural pride. Dressed in costumes that suggest the attire worn by the Muslims of the southern Philippines, the dancers brought out the bamboo poles associated with the tinikling, a Filipino folk dance.

But the crew's dance moves were all 2020, strong, energetic, passionate.

Derek Hough said that they “ooze passion … and I love the fact that you brought in your culture into this piece,” though it “started a little slow” and the moment they brought out bamboo poles as props “dipped in energy.” That review was kind of mixed, and so was Ne-Yo‘s. He loved the fans they used as props and the overall “cleanliness” of their performance, but he also wasn’t down with the bamboo. “It had its ups and its downs.”

Jennifer Lopez praised them as a “strong group” that “dance almost as one,” but the routine as a whole “didn’t all come together.”

It was a powerful, passionate performance that impressed the judges and earned the crew a score of 89, a good score, but not good enough for the finals.

"As we conclude our 'World of Dance' 2020 journey, we want to dedicate this piece to our motherland, to every Filipino. Even if we didn't make it to the final round, we are mad proud. All the blood, sweat, and tears, the sleepless nights, aching bodies, drained minds, and restless souls, has come to this moment," said UPeepz coach Chips Beltran.