Two years ago, America was caught in awe when they saw 9-year old Bailey “Bailrok” Muñoz and his 5-year old friend, Miles Brown a.k.a. Baby Boogaloo, graced the stage of America’s Got Talent with sheer cuteness. These two boys have got everybody curious on what their duo, the Future Funk, was about to do. It was only when the two funky hair-styled boys began b-boy dancing and crumping that people started to take them seriously.
Although Future Funk only made it until the semi-finals in America’s Got Talent, Bailey has achieved many notable triumphs in his many collaborations and performances that followed the show.
At a young age, Bailrok has already performed at some of the most coveted venues and events that any dancer would give anything to be at.
He was able to perform at a New York Knicks game; in Chris Brown’s music video Yeah 3x and in ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, among others. As a solo act, Bailrok was able to showcase his talent at the Hip Hop Battle Fest, the Billionaire Mafia Event, the Formula, Magic Show and Rally for the Kids hosted by Jerome Williams.
A kid whose passion for dancing was ignited by watching MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC), it was not a surprise that Bailey won a competition at MTV’s ABDC concert back in 2009. He was also recognized as the Up and Coming B-Boy during the 7th Vegas Showdown.
Amid his achievements, Bailrok has never forgotten where he came from. And although born and raised in Fremont, CA, his parents, Ferdinand and Barbra, always made sure they instilled in him the traditional Filipino values and culture.
Just recently, Bailrok spent Christmas and New Year with his family in the Philippines. Even though Barbra often cooks Pinoy dishes for her family in the States and makes sure Bailrok and his sister, Faithe practice the traditional “mano” to the elders, she told the Asian Journal during an interview that nothing beats letting the kids experience Filipino food and tradition right in the Philippines.
“It was truly an amazing experience to spend the Christmas and New Year holiday in the Philippines. We tried to have Bailey experience the traditional Filipino way of celebrating the holidays like Simbang Gabi, or eating foods that we don’t have here in the States like fish balls, taho, sorbetes and fresh fruits like mangosteen, rambutan.”
During their vacation, the family went to Boracay where Bailey had fun learning how to jet ski and parasail for the first time. When the family went to Subic, Barbra marveled at how Bailrok and his sister “got to swim and play with the dolphins.” They also visited their relatives in Tarlac.
Bailrok’s parents also took the opportunity to have him receive his first Holy Communion in the country at Christ the King Church.
Aside from dancing the tinikling with the traditional Filipino Folk Dancers in Tagaytay, Bailrok also visited several local television programs like ABS-CBN’s Happy Yipee Yehey in which he performed with John Pratts. He also made appearances in Kapamilya shows like Gandang Gabi Vice, Showtime, and E-Live. He showed some of his moves on GMA’s Party Pilipinas as well.
Bailrok also met and became friends with some of the most respected dance groups in the country like the Maneuvers Crew and the Unlimited Boyz. He also met with The Philippine All Stars, whom he is already friends with since 2009 during the Hip Hop International competition in Las Vegas.
According to Barbra, Bailrok is a kid who thinks ahead of his age. He was able to match the skills of dancers older than him at the age of nine, thus making him the youngest member of the Rock Steady Crew, a b-boy and hip hop dancing crew recognized worldwide.
It was also Artson of Rock Steady who became Bailrok’s first mentor in b-boy and who tagged him “Bailrok” which is a combination of his first name and ‘rocking’ to the beat of the music.”
Aside from Rock Steady and Future Funk, Bailey is also associated with the hip-hop group, the Prodigy, which is directed by Kay More. Bailey and the rest of the Prodigy recently won gold in the USA Hip Hop International competition in Las Vegas last year.
Barbra said that there are many things to be proud of when it comes to Bailrok. Aside from his ability to balance his passion for dancing and academics, he was considered a “miracle baby” by his parents for surviving a critical health condition during his early years.
Barbra was also proud of the fact that Bailrok is growing up to be a generous kid who takes pleasure in looking after his younger sister and giving back to the community by inspiring young kids.
“Bailey was able to participate in an outreach program called All The Way Live Foundation organized in San Francisco, CA., which visited Makati High School and Mano Amiga to teach youth how to dance,” Barbra mused.
Like any concerned parent, Barbra said that she and Ferdinand will continue to give Bailrok “the best education can offer so that he can have a great future wherever life takes him.” Should Bailey decide to pursue a career in dancing, Barbra wished that he would continue to be passionate about his art and be able to “embrace it whole-heartedly.”
The future is bright for Bailey with many new projects and tours lined-up for him. Aside from pending television and movie projects, he is also set to tour France, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the Philippines once more. For Bailrok’s future appearances and shows, check out www.bailrok.com. You can also follow him on Facebook: “B-boy Bailrok” or Twitter: “Bailrok”.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(Las Vegas Feb 2-8, 2012 Sec B pg.1)
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