A 19-year-old who has won the third Vietnamese version of U.S. dance show “So You Think You Can Dance” had previously nabbed 13 victories in other local and international dance competitions.

Son Lam, a student of Ho Chi Minh City-based FPT Arena University, was named the winner of the show at its finale on Saturday.

The young man received 35.45 percent of the audiences’ votes during the event, which took place at Maximark Cong Hoa Sports Hall in Ho Chi Minh City, to earn the title and an award of VND 400 million (US$18,827).

Lam, who hails from the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, was repeatedly voted as the favorite dancer in the program’s previous live shows.

He beat Pham Lich, an outstanding dancer who boasts exceptional and highly expressive facial features during her steps.

Lich, one of the finale’s top four performers, was highly expected to be the show’s first female winner.

Lam said that he took up hip hop around five years ago by first imitating dance moves on the Internet.

He then enrolled in courses in popping at a local cultural center.

His professional career did not begin until he met and joined two female dancers from X-Clown – a new dance group – in 2009.

Just like many young dancers, Lam initially met with vehement objections from his intellectual parents over his choice of a professional dance career.

With his endless passion and tremendous efforts, Lam has grown to be an outstanding popper in Ho Chi Minh City.

An episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” that features Son Lam 

Apart from his latest win in the “So You Think You Can Dance” show, the young dancer has claimed 13 other championships in many dance contests since 2011, including 2013 Original Gangstaz Singapore and First Of The Year freestyle solo 2014.

One year ago, Lam enrolled in the UDG dance troupe run by expat Vietnamese John Huy.

The experience and skills he garnered there markedly boosted his confidence and performance at the 2014 “So You Think You Can Dance” show.

The new champion, better known as Bim among the local dance circle, said that the six months spent at “So You Think You Can Dance” offered him countless opportunities to conquer himself and celebrate his love for dance, particularly his strength – hip hop.

The young man revealed he will continue to dance with his X-Clown group and practice with the UDG troupe, while looking for some dance training courses abroad.

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