Breakin' bad
High-flying nationwide breakdancing competition spins into Houston
Believe it or not, people still breakdance.
The street-dancing craze that began in the New York boroughs in the '70s and swept the world in the early '80s, where guys and girls — usually in Adidas sweatsuits — dropped a cardboard mat on the ground, played some hip-hop on a nearby boom box, and did crazy, acrobatic dance moves never really went away.
And, coming this May, the world-renowned breaking competition known as Red Bull BC One Camp will be in Houston for a three-day event, showing everybody that breakdancing is still a fly, fresh, and global thing.
Now in its sixteenth year, this event — the final stop on the 2019 Red Bull BC One All Star Tour — will feature rising-star dancers from across the country, celebrating many expressions of dance culture and exploring funk, disco, alternative club music and, of course, hip-hop.
Members of the Houston community will have the chance to engage with the country's top breakers through the dozen workshops and lectures that'll be taking place. There will be workshops devoted to musicality, flow & texture, pop rock & hand styles, original flow, etc. Some legends of the early hip-hop scene will be on hand for the lectures, including OG Rock Steady Crew members Crazy Legs and Mr. Wiggles and iconic b-girl/activist Asia One.
As for competitions, two winners will be crowned at the Red Bull BC One B-Girl and B-Boy National Finals. Both will advance for a chance to compete in the Mumbai World Final in November. There will also be a popping & breaking battle and a dance move-matching challenge called Break the Game, which is akin to the basketball game H.O.R.S.E.
But don't get it twisted — you'll still be able to party and throw down at the afterparties that'll happen at the end of each day. On Friday, local Latin collective Bombon will keep the party going. A plethora of Texas DJs will spin on Saturday night, including H-Town faves DJ Babyjae & Kleancutt of The Kracker Nuttz, Dayta and DJ Mr. Rogers. And the party on Sunday, which will have the country's top b-boys facing off in an all-star exhibition battle, will bring in DJ/producer/hip-hop lord Just Blaze, along with DJ Ill-Set and DJ Lean Rock.
All of this will take place at Warehouse Live, Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19. Interested participants and guests are encouraged to RSVP to attend. For more information, visit the official site.
