Joshua Decena Is Dancing His Way Onto the Global Stage

As a young talent gifted in the art of dance, 27-year-old Joshua Decena from the Philippines took his love for the craft online and built a steadily growing audience. From having gained over a million followers on TikTok and being recruited by the renowned A-Team, to having performed in front of massive crowds, Joshua’s momentum as an exceptional force showed no signs of slowing down.

With a genuine passion as a performer, Joshua demonstrated how staying inspired and dedicated can pay off more than one could imagine.

A path made by passion

It started as a simple hobby where he would film dance covers and creative choreographies back in 2014 in Abu Dhabi. Over time, he grew his following as he continued to post his videos. By 2019, he joined TikTok and started sharing his dance journey, as well as a glimpse into his life in the Philippines, expanding his audience further.

Eventually, Joshua’s path took an unexpected turn when he caught the attention of a renowned Philippine dance team that wanted to work with him. When asked what inspired him to pursue this art, he briefly explained how everything started. “It was very uncertain for me because dancing was just a hobby. And then I just started taking dance classes during the pandemic, and that’s when I got recruited into A-Team. From then on, that’s when it just started creating a path for itself.”

Joining the big game

A-Team has represented the Philippines internationally, both in competitions and in hosting workshops. They became the Megacrew champions in the 2014 World Hip Hop Dance Championship, making them the first Filipino team to win gold in that division. The following year, the team won bronze, and in 2016, they were selected to join one of the most prestigious dance competitions in the world: Body Rock in San Diego, California. This invite cemented them as the first and only Filipino team to be on that stage.

When the once-in-a-lifetime chance presented itself, he made sure to maximize the opportunity as much as he could. With the creation of a new path for Joshua, he consistently put in the work in order to maintain his trajectory. Sure enough, “It just kept going and going,” he said.

Competitive yet uplifting dynamics

He also wanted to recognize his team for the role they played in getting him to where he is today. Working alongside other gifted dancers placed Joshua in an inspiring environment. While this pushed him to move forward and improve in his craft, it all tied together with the opportunities they earned. As their proficiency grew, so did the audience and the opportunities that came their way.

While having a positive support system and being in a competitive yet friendly surrounding were crucial to his growth, Joshua also drew inspiration from the examples his team had set with their individual abilities. “Watching them dance kind of inspires me to be like, ‘I want to dance like that; I want to move like that,’ since everyone moves differently. So by having that type of people around you that are not only competitive but friendly at the same time, it kind of ignites your passion even more.”

Great talent, greater payoff

With time, Joshua’s passion persevered with his ever-growing skills. In his pursuit to keep pushing forward, the young performer managed to capture even more opportunities and accomplishments. From various brand collaborations, television exposure such as being cast in television shows, to dancing on a big stage with a renowned K-pop idol, his experiences showed the outcome of all his talent and hard work.

“As a dancer, I think the proudest moment was being able to perform in the MOA Arena with the team. Not only performing there, but also with a big K-pop idol. The idol is Jessi—we danced for [her], so that was cool,” he stated, highlighting his most memorable accomplishment.

Undying excellence

Given Joshua’s growing accomplishments, he has made his mark as an individual who represents the masses. As a star holding great influence, he was asked how it feels to represent the excellence of Southeast Asia.

“It feels crazy. I feel like the world has to know how talented Asians, not only Asians, but Filipinos, are. I feel like it’s known already, and I feel like it’s a stereotype that once you say you’re Filipino, you can either sing or dance. But I want to amplify how good a Filipino can dance, how good a Filipino can move, and how good a Filipino can look.”

A standout performer committed to sharpening his craft and claiming new triumphs, Joshua Decena continues to raise the bar. Every performance reinforces the strength of Filipino and Southeast Asian talent.

Photography Julian Villegas