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SPOTLIGHT ON SOUTH KOREA: THE 2013 R16

The 2013 R16 World Championships successfully completed their seventh global tournament on July 12, 13 and 14 in Seoul, South Korea. With 25 national and regional eliminations around the world, and more than 450 Poppers, 250 Lockers, 650 Solo B-Boys and 400 B-Boy crews participating globally, R16 is definitely one of the biggest and most prestigious battle tournaments worldwide.

Besides the high production level and unique, concert-like atmosphere, what separates the R16 World Championships from all other events in the world is the scoring system and standards in which the B-Boy battle results are based upon. While all other events gather their results from the subjective opinions through a random variety of judges who each have their own mysterious methods, the R16 judging system (better known as O.U.R. System) ensures a fair and equal shot for every type of style and approach to breaking, while providing a whole new level of transparency and education, bridging the longtime missing gap between the judges, the B-Boys and the audience.

Although the audience explanation of the O.U.R. System and scoreboard could be improved for the first-timers, the R16 Judging system has come a long way in the past three years since its first implementation. There are many enthusiast and spectators who aren’t dancers, but actually know how to read the scoreboard and understand the five categories upon which the B-Boy battles are judged. Not only is the audience more educated on the dance, but they also know who is winning or losing throughout the battle, and by how big of a margin.

This year at the R16 World Finals, the R16 Korea National Champions, Morning of Owl crew completely annihilated all competition. They defeated all their opponents, with a clean sweep of 5-0 categories in each of their battles. R16 is Morning of Owl’s first world championship title, and they really have come a long way in the past year.

Team leader Sejun said, “Before the O.U.R. System, I didn’t care about foundation. When it began being used at R16, I became interested and began to wonder, what does foundation mean?”

One year ago, Morning of Owl was scoring only one or two points in foundation. This year, they scored an average of four points, and on a few occasions, they scored the maximum of five points in some of their rounds. Other than Morning of Owl, the R16 World Championships creates new superstars in the B-Boy community. For example, in 2012, Japan’s 15-year-old B-Boy Issei was relatively unknown throughout the worldwide community. Starting from the open eliminations prior to the championship, he earned his spot in the final eight and defeated world superstar Hong 10 in the first round, Korean power move legend Blue in the second and Red Bull BC One World Champion Roxrite in the finals. Without the unique R16 system, Issei could not have gotten that far due to his name being relatively unknown.

Many B-Boys know that the popularity and status of a B-Boy plays a heavy factor in affecting a judge’s decision. However, this was not the case at the R16 World Finals, as many fans were disappointed by the performances of the B-Boy legends that were defeated by Issei. Immediately after, Issei became one of the quickest rising superstars throughout the B-Boy community, being invited to be a guest star at numerous B-Boy events around the world. This year at R16 World Finals, Issei returned to once again win the R16 World Finals Solo B-Boy battle, becoming a two- time R16 Solo B-Boy Champion.

Every year, the R16 World Championships global tournament grows bigger and better, and the stakes get higher. In 2012, Issei only had eight people to defeat in the Solo B-Boy battle. This year, there were 16 B-Boys. Four of them are the current world champions of the four major B-Boy events. Four of them were special invites, six of them are R16 regional champions and two of them came from the open eliminations. Also, this year, the total prize money was raised from $35,000 to $44,000.

Another example of the overall growth of the competition is the gradual increase of R16 eliminations that are popping up all over the world. In 2011, there were ten eliminations. In 2012, there were seventeen. This year there were 25 eliminations, while next year they are aiming for more than thirty. Each of these eliminations go by the same standards, using the O.U.R. System to ensure fairness, quality and consistency, as other global tournaments depend on the luck of the panel and the taste of the judges hired for the day.

With the growing success, production and professionalism of the R16 World Championships one can only wonder what else they have in store for next year. R16 is continually dedicated to taking the culture to the next level while preserving the culture’s true essence. It’s the reason and is the why R16 is not only considered to be one of the biggest and most prestigious battle tournaments worldwide, but also a huge movement to take the culture to its deserved destiny.

#Red Bull BC One

CONFIDENCE & ENERGY: NEGUIN'S BERLIN WORKSHOP Last month, Red Bull BC One All Star Neguin came to Berlin to teach a Master Class at Flying Steps Dance Academy. The Academy organizes these workshops for their most dedicated students as a reward for their hard work.

Neguin talked to the kids. He told them about the way he sees B-Boying, about his philosophy and his experiences. He asked them what moves they needed help with and took the time to figure out, how the level of the different students was and what they needed at this point to improve.

Neguin spoke a lot about energy-- about the energy you put into a move, a freeze, a jump. He had the kids scream out their names when hitting a freeze, and it was interesting to watch how even the shy kids that almost whispered their names in the beginning started to loosen up and got louder, put more energy into their moves and became more confident as they shouted out their names.

He also had the kids battle one another and showed them how important tactics, the right attitude and energy are in a battle. One really dope exercise was when he had them all dance in a circle and he made the circle smaller and smaller, until it was almost impossible to move.

All participants of the workshop had a great time, and I joined them for a group shot when it was over. Before they left, I asked them what they thought of the workshop. It had been in one way or another about energy, and Neguin is really known for his incredible energy on the dance floor.

I told them how Neguin came on stage for the final battle in the Red Bull BC One World Final Japan 2010 with a can of Red Bull in his hand. He looked like he was about to burst with energy and proceeded to empty the can in one swig, squished it in one hand, threw it to the ground and jumped onto the dance floor. How energetic and powerful that gesture had looked! I also told them how I had picked up the can after the battle and took it home as a souvenir… at which point I presented the can and asked Neguin to sign it for me.

I had never told Neguin I had picked up the can and he looked both surprised and touched. The kids loved the story and they all wanted to touch the can in the hopes that some of Neguin’s legendary energy would rub off on them.

Good luck in the World Finals, brother!

-Nika

#Red Bull BC One

DJ RENEGADE: SPINNING IN DUBAI What a trip! I was recently in Dubai for the Red Bull BC One UAE Cypher. Dubai is an interesting place that is a mix of classic and modern life in almost every aspect. The country gained independence around 40 years ago and is one of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates.

When I arrived, I was presented with a cardboard box prepped to look like an old-school ghetto blaster. Inside it were a few nice treats, such as an embossed towel and vest, a spray can, a cassette-shaped USB drive loaded with music suggested by me and, best of all, a short comic book summing up the previous year’s Cypher, qualifiers and workshop. Everything in my lil’ ghetto blaster was top-notch quality too!

A day before the event, the qualifiers were held in a club called SPiN Dubai, which is basically a hybrid nightclub and table tennis club. It was a very interesting mix. I DJed while the dancers performed their rounds for the judges, who were assigned the task of choosing the best 16 dancers to move on to compete in the Cypher.

It was set up as a showcase, where each dancer had 30-40 seconds to present their best moves. The level in Dubai is quite mixed, as there are many foreigners living there-- expats from all over the region go to study or work there. Following the qualifiers, each judge held a 30-minute workshop where they shared their knowledge with the locals.

I held a two-hour DJing workshop after the dancing wrapped up. I focused on the history of DJing, its culture and how to approach the art for a competition, especially a B-Boying competition. It's a unique skillset and a niche market, so I took time to explain the differences between the art of digging and just downloading Top 40 hits to play in a club.

The main competition was held in a photographic studio called Desert Fish. The setup was nice and the ambiance was perfect for the event. It was well attended and the crowd was pretty amped throughout the event. The judges were Lamine and previous Red Bull BC One World Champions Roxrite and Mounir. In my opinion, it was a very strong line up. Tamer hosted the event. He did a great job keeping the crowd hyped and informed, as he’s quite tuned into the local scene and its dancers. I was the DJ for the event, and a live band joined me for the final battle.

After long, tough battles, Omar took the title for a third time. A big thank you to Fouad, Marina, Faraz and all the team who ensured everything ran smoothly and tight as clockwork!

-R.

#Red Bull BC One

SITTING OUT TO GET AHEAD Rox travels and shares some battle strategy wisdom

I’m back home after a three-week journey on an around-the-world trip. I literally traveled east from San Diego came right back again! This trip started off in Orlando, which is something I already posted about, and from there I headed straight to Dubai, where I had not been in five years.

Time really flies by! I saw a lot of new faces in Dubai, but it was good to see that most of the B-Boys are still around and still getting down. Omar took the Cypher for the second time in a row, which is not an easy thing to do, but he deserved it.

From Dubai, I made my way south for Cape Town, South Africa. It was a rough travel schedule though! I left Dubai at 4:40AM, arrived to Cape Town at 3:30PM and the battle started at 7:00PM! I didn't know what to expect on this trip. It was my first time back to South Africa in three years, so going back for me was dope. It’s one of my top-five places to visit in the world.

The Red Bull BC One Cypher was hyped, all the local Hip Hop heads and dancers we're there to support. South Africa’s scene has a lot of history, even though it is secluded from the rest of the world. They have had B-Boys and B-Girls there since the late 1970s, which is unheard of in other countries.

As for the Cypher, Benny took home the title and will be heading to the Red Bull BC One Middle East Africa Final, in Jordan. I haven't seen him dance like that in a while, so it was good to see he has been training. The pre-Cypher workshop I taught was one of my favorites I’ve done in a while. A major shout out to all the dancers that came out and supported the class! They made me feel at home.

I also got to be a tourist and do some site seeing in Cape Town! Check the photos.

After Dubai, I made my way to Seoul South Korea for R16. This time around, I went as a spectator. I had the opportunity to battle, but I decided it was best to just watch. My schedule has been on the go for the last three months and I have only spent 10 days at home. To battle in a one-on-one, I need to sit at home and focus and also just develop and create. From watching battles, you learn a lot and you can see where mistakes were made. Watching them reminds me of what I am lacking and what I need to work on to get better and be ready for the next battle.

I always tell people in my workshop to take their time to develop skills—it’s just a part of the process. You have to be able to pass up some opportunities, so you can be better prepared for the next one. Longevity in this game ain’t easy, and passin’ up battles is part of it!

Pz, Rox All the best!

#roxrite #Red Bull BC One

THE B-BOY Q&A: REDO

Watching Redo float through the air at the Holland Cypher was a life-changing experience. He shuffled through the dining hall before the Cypher, though it was impossible to miss his warm energy and the big smile on his face. Redouan Ait Chitt, aka B-Boy Redo, was born with physical irregularities, leaving him moving through this lifetime with a few less than ten fingers, a shorter arm and prosthetic leg. Whereas we would usually refer to Redo as disabled, he has a different way of looking at his life. He calls himself differently abled, or more specifically, ILL-Abled.

Teamed together with Lazylegz, Tommy Guns, Kujo and Checho, Redo is part of the international super crew named ILL-Abilities. Taking the “dis” out of their physical conditions-- and replacing it with street illness in spades-- they inspire and awe with not only their ability to overcome obstacles, but also by how well they dance. We caught up with Redo to discuss his experiences with both Holland Cyphers, as well as how he lives his life according to his mantra: “no excuses, no limits.”

Watching you walk around pre-Cypher, it was hard to believe that was the same man who strut up stage with such confidence and continued on to display such amazing skills. When and how did you start dancing? Redo: Thank you! I started nine years ago, when I was 14. When I moved from primary to high school, I saw some kids practicing and I was just blown away. I took some classes at a community center, but it eventually closed down so I continued practicing with my childhood best friend, B-Boy Nazgul. I haven’t stopped since.

Were your parents worried when you came home one day, saying you wanted to break? Yeah, they were. But they were always worried when I wanted to start something new, and they always got used to it pretty quickly. I played many other sports growing up, like soccer and various styles of martial arts, so this was just another new thing I came home with. I’ve always been pretty lucky that nobody has really judged me or treated me differently because of my body. It was never too difficult to get started.

Do you still play other sports today? No, not really. I finished my studies through university, so there just wasn’t enough time! I have a degree in media and entertainment management. I now freelance with 45-Live and IBE, so I’m pretty busy with work and the dance.

I understand that you are a motivational speaker as well? Tell us a little bit about your experiences with that. It’s pretty great. I speak at schools, events and sometimes companies. I share my mantra and teach people how you are only limited by your mind. Anybody can achieve anything they want to with the right spirit and focus. I do 30-minute speeches and dance, often telling jokes too. They’re a lot of fun. It’s rewarding too.

How did you get started with ILL-Abilities? ILL-Abilities started in 2007, and I joined the crew in 2010. Lazylegz came up with the idea to have a super crew of differently abled dancers. He got in touch with Tommy Guns, a member of the Renegades crew, who had lost his leg to cancer when he was 18. Kujo also became a founding member. He has very limited hearing in just one ear, and dances by feeling the vibrations of the music through the floor. Then there’s Checho, from Chile, who has a malformation in his legs, leaving his feet up to knee level. Our aim is to always do battles and travel, like any other crew, and to continue dancing and improving.

We also do performances. It’s amazing though, how people are changed by watching us dance. We often get standing ovations, and people come up to us afterwards, often crying, telling us how moved and inspired they are by us.

How were your experiences with Holland Cypher? Well this is the second one they’ve had, and I was invited to the first one too. Last year, I lost in the second round to Xisco, who went on to win the Cypher that year. This time, I lost in the second round to Kido. It was a lot of fun though, and always a great experience.

Any shout outs or last words? Shouts out to my crews, Funky Dope Maneuvers and ILL-Abilities, to my friends, family and the 45-Live office! As for last words: “No Excuses, No Limits!”

The B-Boy Q&A is a regular feature where we learn more about participants of Red Bull BC One.

#Red Bull BC One #ILL-Abilities

TRAVEL TO MEXICO WITH LILOU

Salam Everyone,

Here's a little video I’d like to share with you from my short stay in Mexico City for the Red Bull BC One Mexico Cypher.

It features the different stages, the workshop, the photo shoot and jury panel, where I was joined by El Nino and Omar.

I saw a great level there, with intense battles and a supportive audience. Bravo to Dr. Hill for a spectacular win. He will go on to represent Mexico, alongside his brother and second-place winner B-Boy Baby, at the Red Bull BC One Latin American Final on August 4.

Everyone was so talented there, but unfortunately only one can prevail. It’s the rule.

Enjoy!

#lilou #Red Bull BC One

THE B-BOY Q&A: BIGMI

B-Boy Bigmi made quite an impression at the Red Bull BC One UAE Cypher. With a name that plays on his short stature, Bigmi surprised everyone in attendance with his raw skill, tight execution and exuberant attitude. What’s less known about the dancer is that he also is hearing impaired. Bigmi not only defies social expectations with his dance, but he also overcame physical limitations to qualify in the top 16. We caught up with Bigmi to ask him a bit about his background and how he got into the game.

Hello hello. Please introduce yourself to those us who don’t know you. My name is Oussama Haraca, aka B-Boy Bigmi. I’m a 21-year-old B-Boy from Morocco, representing Over Boys Crew UAE. I’ve been dancing since 2008.

How did you get started in the dance? I was walking down the street with my parents and I saw people dancing. I didn’t know what they were doing, but I really liked what I saw. I went and asked them what was up, and they told me it was called B-Boying. I asked them if I could come train with them, and they invited me. I showed up the next day, and started practicing with them. They taught me about the history of Hip Hop and some moves.

How did your physical limitations affect you during those beginning stages? Was your family concerned? I really know that my body doesn’t help for B-Boying. My family was really supportive, actually. I told my parents that I wanted to dance, and they said that it doesn’t matter that I’m a short guy. They told me that I could just have my own style, and that I must do this from the bottom of my heart and your soul if I really wanted it. They told me to work hard and that I would be different from all the other B-Boys in the world.

As for the hearing, I just feel the music in my heart. It’s what drives my dance. I really like it this way, even though I’m quite different. I even hear that I’ve inspired a few other dancers.

How has your confidence, or even physicality, changed since you started dancing? My body has really changed! I am more muscular and I have a lot of power right now. I’m so happy that I finally found myself, and my crew. My family is also really proud of me.

Morocco’s scene is regarded as one of the best in the Middle East. What’s the scene like in the UAE? The scene in UAE is not as big as the one in Morocco. The Moroccan level is really dope, and there are just more dancers there. Another big difference is that most of the B-Boys in the UAE are actually from different countries. Few people are native. My crew and I are trying to help Emirate B-Boys practice and take them to the next level.

What do you hope for the future with your dance? Being a part of the Red Bull BC One Cypher was amazing! In the future, I hope to join the international battles with the big-time B-Boys, so I can improve my dance and prove myself overseas. I want to make my crew and all the Arab B-Boys proud of me!

The B-Boy Q&A is a regular feature where we learn more about participants of Red Bull BC One.

#Red Bull BC One

SUPER BANGER WOCKEEZ VIDEO

The amazing “Super Banger Wockeez” video released last week in support of the Jabbawockeez soundtrack for their show, PRiSM. We caught up with Ronnie to ask him a little bit about what was going on behind the video.

Ronnie: The music video was an idea that Nick Ngo, from The Bangerz, came up with. For those that don't know, The Bangerz are the beat makers who produce all the original tracks that Jabbawockeez/Super Cr3w perform to at our new show in Las Vegas, called PRiSM. The New Jabbawockeez show will live in the Luxor Hotel & Casino for the next few years, so the concept of the music video was not only to promote the new song and soundtrack album that is in the show, but also to introduce the world to the team behind PRiSM. Jabbawockeez, in collaboration with Super Cr3w and The Bangerz, have been performing together since the first show in Las Vegas back in 2010, at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. From that time we moved to the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, and after three years made our way to the Luxor.

To make a long story short, the music video represents the timeline of where we were before and after we joined forces. We continue to do projects together, like performing at the Red Bull BC One Final Brazil 2012, in Rio, to promote the Jabbawockeez/ The Bangerz/ Super Cr3w collaborative brand. And above all, we are good friends that share the same passion for music and dance! Hope you enjoy it

#Red Bull BC One

THE B-BOY Q&A: VICIOUS VICTOR

Florida has been known for turning out talent, from notorious crews like Ground Zero, Flipside Kingz, Mind180 and Skmz, to some of the best B-Boys stateside. Vicious Victor became the Red Bull BC One Orlando Cypher repeat winner this year-- not to mention the champion of both 2011’s Tampa Heat and 2013’s Orlando Heat-- as one of its youngest competitors. We caught up with Victor to speak about his pre-battle preparations, battling against his girl and exactly how much power there is in that hairdo.

First of all, how have you been? You’ve travelling a lot lately. How’s the crew doing, and your family? Vicious Victor: Thank you, my friends and I’ve been good. We’re just chilling and enjoying life. My family is good, and my crew too.

How do you prepare for such huge events, where the pressure and expectation levels of spectators and fellow B-Boys are unbelievable high? Yeah, I love Florida. The crews inspire me-- they have mad flava, style and originality. I didn’t really prepare for this event. I was just training here and there, but it’s really about your mindset. You can’t think too much. Over-thinking will kill you-- just go with the flow and have fun. Do what you can do, and don’t worry bout anything else or the crowd. The competition was definitely stiff, but that’s a good thing. It’s how you get better.

There is footage of you battling your girlfriend, who’s a known B-Girl. What was is it like battling Roxy? Is it a good way to settle relationship disputes? Yeah it was good battling her! It was really fun, actually, and I would love to smoke her again!!!

What’s the secret to your incredible power moves sets? Tell us, is it the hair? The secret to my power is not my hair, LOL! It’s just practicing everyday—you just get used to it.

Are you still in school? No I’m not in school right now. I really didn’t like it, but I have to go back. Education is first.

Any shout outs, or words to share? Shout outs to all my fans and everyone who believed in me cuz I didn’t even believe in myself at first. I was like, whatever… It was the wrong attitude. And to my family and girlfriend, who all believe in me. My girl is the best, and all the positive stuff she tells me. I love her, and my dad is number one!

The B-Boy Q&A is a regular feature where we learn more about past participants of Red Bull BC One

#Red Bull BC One

LAMINE'S VIDEO TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Hello, everyone! I hope all is well and that you're all practicing hard.

I had the chance to be on the Middle East tour for the second year, traveling to beautiful countries like Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Dubai. Unfortunately, I missed Egypt and Jordan, but hopefully I'll be back next year.

It was good to meet up with B-Boys that I've seen in the past year, watch them train and also see how they have integrated what we taught them in the previous workshops. It was also good to be able to answer all their questions in person about dancing, the scene and the international circuit of Red Bull BC One.

It was amazing to see how the level has changed in the region within just one year. I look forward to seeing them in a couple of years. Some dancers are already competing at an international level.

Here is a little clip i did on my trip to Red Bull BC One Cypher Bahrain. It was shot at the main event venue by Roxrite. We arrived at Isa Bin Salman Cultural Hall (The Alumni Club) and it was so beautiful that we had to do something. Luckily, we were the first ones to shoot there.

Lamine Red Bull BC One Cypher Bahrain from Lamine on Vimeo.

Here's another video from Bahrain, featuring local B-Boys Zilla and Dust in the Muarraq District, another amazing spot in Bahrain.

The next one is from Lebanon, with Roxrite and Taisuke, shot by the the of us at Rue Saint Nicolas-- a great place with high stairs. The music was provided by our B-Boy friend, Wicket.

One Man Army | Lamine Taisuke Roxrite | Beirut, Lebanon. from Lamine on Vimeo.

And the last one is a recap of the last country of this tour, Dubai. Everything is on the video.

Dubai* from Lamine on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

Peace, Lamine

#lamine #Red Bull BC One

WELCOMING DJ SKEME RICHARDS

Welcome to the first installment of many stories, and a look inside my world-- not only as a traveling DJ, but also an official DJ for Red Bull BC One events around the globe.

Being a resident DJ for one of the largest B-Boy/ B-Girl events in the world is an honor that few can claim, and it’s one that doesn’t come easily. Much preparation and work goes into each event as a DJ, which begins way before the needle drops on the record.

As an official DJ, you must have the respect of not only your DJ peers but also the B-Boys and B-Girls that train hard to compete. These dancers must believe in you, not only as a musical selector, but also as someone that understands the dance. As a DJ, understanding the dance and how to play music for it is what brings out the best in each breaker, which in turn should make for a one-of-a-kind experience for all of the spectators that are in attendance.

Professionalism is another element that must be maintained at all times. There are instances where you are put under pressure, and when technical things go wrong. As the soul controller for the sound, the DJ must know how to deal with the tech issues during these intense times.

Many DJs believe it’s just about playing records and don’t understand, or aren’t comfortable with, the technical aspect of this art—but that’s exactly how things can go wrong, and all eyes are on you when it does.

Throughout the journey of my new blog, I’ll give you a first-hand look of where I’ve been, what I’ve done and the things that I enjoy when traveling. It will also serve as a go-to travel guide, sharing information with my fellow DJs, B-Boys, B-Girls and readers, such as favorite spots to see, my experiences traveling to other countries, airports that I don’t mind having a layover in and ones to definitely avoid.

The DJ life is definitely an amazing journey, but as you’ll learn it’s not always fun and games.

There are many things that I’m excited to share with you during these travels, and hopefully you’ll check back on a regular basis as I do updates on all things cool, all things fresh and all things Skeme Richards.

Until next time, stay fresh!

Skeme Richards Hot Peas & Butta Rock Steady Crew

#Red Bull BC One

CONNECTING CULTURES THROUGH DANCE

Who would have thought that dance would have brought me to the four corners of the world? When I started this art, I just wanted to express myself and push the limits of my dance. My aim was to always grow and evolve through competitions. I never would have guessed that it would become my career, much less that I would travel with world with it.

I have now been dancing for 17 years, and I am always looking for a new experience to both help evolve the dance in general, as well as my own. I just came back from a destination where Hip Hop and dance have only appeared in the cultural landscape in the past few years. Everyone knows this country, or has heard about it in the news. Based on my personal experience, however, what I felt from the time I spent there was far, far from the images portrayed in the media.

Pakistan is a country that has given me yet another unique life experience, and God willing, it’s not the last time I will go there. My sidekick, fellow Red Bull BC One All Star Pelézinho, and I visited three Pakistani cities: Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. I have known of a few Pakistani B-Boys, as they have contacted me through my Facebook page, and that’s how I learned there was a scene there in the first place. YouTube is blocked in Pakistan, so there is a delay in video and other information generally getting to the boys there. Still, they stay connected to the B-Boy scene via other sites and methods. In total, we had 130 B-Boys show up, though many missed the call.

The level is not very high in Pakistan just yet. It was the first time they had ever met a dancer from abroad. You can imagine the joy and to what extent they had anticipated our arrival. The welcoming that Pelézinho and I received at the training facility was probably the warmest of our careers.

Thank you, Pakistan and your B-Boys, for having given us such energy and a beautiful image of your country.

Salam, Lilou

#lilou #Red Bull BC One

CATALAN CREW BATTLES As the sun set for the night, the seats at Casa Musicale were filled before the event even started. I was happy to find myself under a vast, starry sky on top of the central hill in Perpignan, France when the stage lights went on. The weather could not have been more perfect as a great battle took place. I had the great fortune of being at Block Party again, which is a part of the the Ida y Vuelta Festival, on the Mediterranean coast in Northern Catalonia, just across the border from Spain.

Last year, Paris’ Bad Trip won the crew competition, and they came back to defend their title. In all previous years, there was at least one French team in the finals, but this one was different. B-Boys Nasty and Malik announced the two final crews: Russia’s Predatorz versus South Korea’s Morning of Owl. Both well-known teams went on stage with enthusiasm, hoping their skills would convince the judges.

The results of the battle were not particularly important to the spectators, even though the often-patriotic French crowd loves to see one of their teams win. The finalists delivered a show so beyond everyone’s imagination that the audience was blown away.

Morning of Owl had B-Boy Pocket as their biggest advantage. When he spins and pushes for more momentum, it appears as if his arms cannot keep up with the speed of his body. His technique creates optical illusions, sometimes giving the impression that his body spins by itself and he is actually trying to stop himself by putting his hands on the ground. By combining a variety of different mills, airflares, halos and headspins in elevator combinations, he creates such a lightness, that one might think he could lift off and fly away.

Without a doubt, he is the fastest power-mover on the planet. As amazing as his spins are, equally is his ability to stop on a dime. His freezes are done as fast as one would stop running by smacking into a wall. Pocket mainly mastered his power moves, executing them in a vertical body position.

Predatorz, on the other hand, had B-Boy Aduh as the secret weapon in their arsenal of dancers. Therefore, he didn’t even dance in their first battle of the night. He mastered all kind of floats, which are spinning power moves in a horizontal position. He can make some of the most difficult moves look like they take no effort. When he did, my attention turned to heaven. The feeling is like that of being on a swing, high in the sky—the sensation is stronger than witnessing the moves. The art grows from the inside. And as Aduh played creatively with levels and doing floats, he surely felt like a rollercoaster ride each time he performed.

Both Pocket and Aduh’s performances were incomparable and absolutely outstanding. But there was also B-Boy Issue in the mix. Morning of Owl’s main choreographer stood out, with an intriguing style that nodded at his Asian heritage. Issue threw in other dance styles, like tutting and waving, and while he wasn’t the only dancer in the group to do that, I interpreted his approach as a certain openness to everything that moves. I had to ask myself whether he’s still playing within the conventions of the breaking game, so his performance became a matter of principle.

Predatorz went more by the typical rules and vocabulary of the dance as we know them, and once again proved that they are currently one of the world’s best teams. But in the end, thanks to the famously creative Korean routines and Pocket´s light-weighted solo appearances, Morning of Owl began to dominate the battle towards the end and ultimately won the competition. Post and photo by: Storm

#Red Bull BC One

ALL-STAR SUMMER TOUR FUN

Salam, everybody! Here is a little video that shows the lighter side of our Middle East & Africa tour, which lasted more than a month, living out of hotels, suitcases, planes and airports. Fellow Red Bull BC One All Star Pelézinho and I traveled to eight countries, and were therefore a part of eight judges panels and workshops, but we still spent a lot of time laughing hard in our spare moments.

The video probably looks a lot like a summer vacation! But it’s not only that. We did a lot of work, not only judging and selecting the top B-Boys in each country to compete, but also doing photo and video shoots, personal training and dealing with the general stresses of international travel, like visa problems and hotel coordination. But in the end, it was all a blast! Hope you enjoy our video.

Lilou

#lilou #Red Bull BC One

"NO VICTORY WITHOUT STRUGGLE!" On becoming a repeat Cypher winner

What does it take to be a repeat Red Bull BC One Cypher winner? We spoke with a few B-Boys who have gone onto the Regional Finals twice, and even three times, discussing the winning formula—or just plain luck—it takes to bring home the champion title more than once… and, of course, how good that feels.

In one region alone, we already have three repeat winners: Chey (Spain), Froz (Italy) and Yu-Seng (Switzerland), all of whom will represent their home countries in the Red Bull BC One Western Europe Regional Final. Froz explains it is different to win a Cypher twice in a row, since there are so many factors involved, such as preparation, energy level, opponents, judges and music.

“At the first Italy Cypher in 2011, I lost the first round, so my goal in 2012 was to at least reach the second round. I won in 2012, which made the pressure for this year even higher to achieve the same as the year before,” he said. Yu-Seng agrees that conditions before, and day of Cypher, will affect your performance.

“I was in India one month before the Swiss Cypher, and I suffered from a stomach infection. My legs felt so heavy that I was unable to train properly. The two weeks before the Cypher, I managed to recover and trained like 40 hours in two weeks to get back in shape” he said. “That’s why I was happy to show to people that I had improved. I felt calmer inside, although it is always a fight to get better. At the Cypher, I took every battle as a final, and that motivated me to give it my all each round. The competition was harder this year, so it was quite challenging.”

Chey, on the other hand, is motivated by the idea of a win.

“Winning was a goal that I wanted to achieve in life with the growing experience I have,” he explained.

Although Chey’s preparation was quite similar to before-- and he remained focused on keeping his body free of serious injury-- he felt the level had gone up at the Spanish Cypher, especially since his battle against VO was a tough one. Overall, the three dancers are happy to show their skills again on the big stage. And they showed the other competitors, and audience, that having won the Cypher the first time might not just have been good luck. Froz explained that he now better understands what the Red Bull BC One competition is about after repeat wins. Next to the B-Boying aspect, it’s also a show.

“You also have to prepare the battle as a performer,” he said.

Froz prepared for the Cypher with the Predatorz crew in Russia. He simulated battles with them so he knew what to expect, both physically and mentally. In Italy, the level of B-Boys is going up, which motivates him to train even harder.

“Never train tomorrow what you can train today. I felt good about winning against Teo this year, because he is one of the best Italian B-Boys out there,” Froz said.

As for advice to B-Boys in general, Froz said that the struggle is to do better in dance than you did the day before: “Force yourself with confidence and have a clear goal about what you want to reach. There is no victory without struggle.”

The three returning champs have mixed feelings about their chances to win the Regional Final. Chey feels that reaching the Regional Finals is an accomplishment itself.

“Of course I want to reach as far as possible, and will take it battle by battle,” he added.

Yu-Seng feels more confident this year, and hopes to enjoy this year’s battle more. Froz, on the other hand, is clear in his intentions. He wants to get farther in the rounds than before.

“Maybe, I’ll reach the semi-final this year,” he said. “Or the final would be great!”

The Red Bull BC One Western Europe Regional Final 2013 will take place on September 14 in Naples, Italy.

#Red Bull BC One

THE FRENCH FEELING

Here is the recap of the France Cypher from two weeks ago. We can see that the new generation of French B-Boys is very talented and keeps consistent with the French style. While it’s true that our style isn’t really appreciated by everyone in the world, it does bring home the titles!

This year, the two crews that we hear the most about in France are Melting Force and Bad Trip. Though they are both great examples of French breaking and style, they have their own distinct identities—one is technically skilled, the other more dance-driven.

Winner: Chakal (Bad Trip) Second place: Franklyn (Melting Force)

Enjoy, Lilou

#lilou #Red Bull BC One

BREAKING IN ORLANDO: ROX'S NEXT TOUR BEGINS

What a weekend! After three days at home, it was time to begin the next tour. The first stop was a big one, as we all went down to Orlando, Florida, where there was a massive weekend full of events. Friday was Cypher Adikts, Saturday was day one of Freestyle Session USA Finals, and Sunday was the Red Bull BC One Orlando Cypher, along with the Freestyle Session finals.

I flew in on Thursday and the next day I had two TV appearances to promote the Red Bull BC One Cypher, for both English and Spanish programs! It helps to be bilingual, but I sometimes I forget some words in Spanish. The jet lag can take a toll on you eventually too. That day, I hit up Cypher Adikts and rocked some of the Cyphers for a bit. I was featured on the flyer, which was an honor. It is a non-competitive event of people just reppin’ and rocking circles. In B-Boying, you’re supposed to rock all aspects, comps, Cyphers, shows and the whole nine. It was a nice change to just dance out of love. I did start to feel the exhaustion though—my legs gave out while I getting down in one of the Cyphers. I haven't had that feeling in a long time! I was just fatigued and pushing myself too hard.

I had to push myself a bit though, because I was going to enter the three-on-three Freestyle Session with Squadron-- I had to get a feel for what I was going to be able to do. You usually have to measure yourself pre-event with a competition like that, so you know your capabilities before going out to battle. Day one of Freestyle Session I had a really dope interview with a local Hip Hop radio show called OUR Show. It took place at the event, which gave it a cool vibe. We got into some in-depth stuff about life, dancing and everything in between.

I had two battles that day: the prelims and the top 16. In the prelims, I felt I did better than in the top 16. Also, I usually base my round on what my opponent does so I just did enough for what I felt was needed.

The Red Bull BC One Orlando Cypher was on Sunday. I’m not trying to sound biased, but in all honesty this Cypher featured the most talent in any Cypher I’ve been too all year… and possibly in the last two years. In my opinion, eight of the competitors are already at the Regional Final level. Even some legends put their rep on the line for a shot at the North American Regional Final. In the end, there was a mix of disappointing and good overall battles.

My favorite battle was Omen versus Vicious Victor: the 2012 defending champion versus the 2011 champ. It was good and close, but in the end Vicious Victor edged it out. It was good to see guys like Rebirth, Lego and Keebz put in on the line and get down. It was a pleasure to be witness at this event. In the end, Vicious Victor took home the Cypher champion title and will now go onto the Red Bull BC One North America Regional Final 2013, in Houston, Texas.

It was time for the FSS US Finals battles right after the Cypher, and we had some good battles with some dope trios. Each battle was timed, making each dancer perform a decent amount of rounds, which is both a good motivator and and much-needed challenge in the scene. The timed battles make each dancer understand the art of battling and teach you how to utilize your moves wisely. The last battle was 10 minutes, and I ended up dropping four rounds myself. That means we did 12 rounds all together for a three-on-three. In the end, we had a really hype battle with Flipside Dynasty Disorderz. Much respect to the guys for a dope battle! In the end, Squadron took home the crown and we will rep the USA in Japan for the world finals!

pz, Rox

#roxrite #Red Bull BC One

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