Photos and Story by Jerry Parmer
Dua Lipa’s two sold-out performances at Chase Center showed why she has 85 million followers on Instagram and over 40 billion downloads across various streaming platforms. She is, simply put, a fountain of talent. Her powerful vocals, catchy songwriting, myriad artistic collaborations, and dancing all meld together seamlessly. Sunday evening, October 12, 2025, was an entertainment feast for the senses, and a salve for the heart.
The new album and tour title, Radical Optimism, has a theme we can all heed. As she said in a recent statement: “[I]t struck me, the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm.” For almost two glorious hours, we all were able to leave a little bit of the current world chaos behind us with a wonderful dance pop vibe and first-rate production.
Dua Lipa, heard frequently on gay club dance floors, is also a strong community ally and supporter. She turned down an invitation to perform at the World Cup in Qatar due to the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The Trevor Foundation named her Mental Health Champion of 2024 for her support
of suicide prevention amongst LGTBQ+ young people. There are many other examples, from displaying the Pride flag on stage to actively speaking out against homophobic political leaders.
Sunday’s spectacle at Chase Center was an elaborate, beautifully choreographed multi-component vehicle for her talent. The huge two-level stage had an upper area that peaked like the crest of a wave, with massive video screens, spiral stairways, hidden entry portals, and a catwalk leading out to a center-arena island. Pyrotechnics, lasers, and confetti cannons fired in synchrony to the music and dancing.
For one song, Dua sang while encircled by a ring of fire, and then later she was suspended above the stage on a circular platform while wearing a dramatic full length white “fur” robe. She danced up, down, across, out onto the catwalk, and all around the center island. Her dancers worked in shifts, with as many as 16 or so on stage at times. They deserve a shout out for their precise choreography, stamina, and energy. The songs were presented in four acts, or mini-sets, with a generous four-song encore to close. “Training Season” from her current release was the opening number, and she closed out her 22-song show with “Houdini.”
Midway through, she brought out a surprise guest, Billie Joe Armstrong, to partner with her as she covered Green Day’s classic “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” The audience was delighted. Dua took time after the second act to come down from the stage and work the crowd at the barrier. She took selfies with her starstruck fans, and made us feel like we were her friends as much as fans.
Cil, a 23-year-old newer talent out of Los Angeles, opened the show. Backed by just a drummer and guitarist, she showed why Dua brought her along for several dates on this world tour. https://www.dualipa.com/
Jerry Parmer is an Oakland-based photographer who has photographed some of the Bay Area’s most prominent artists in addition to internationally-known performers such as Dua Lipa. Follow his current work on Instagram @drj_oakland
Published on October 23, 2025
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