If you grew up in the 80's then you're probably familiar with break dancing. And parachute pants. Or maybe you just saw it as a new sport featured in the 2024 Olympics. Now breaking returns to Minneapolis Saturday for one of two national qualifiers in the BC One Cypher.
First off, breaking is short for break dancing. Simple! And this event is one of the biggest of it's kind.
Jake Riley host and owner of House of Dance Twin Cities.
"The Red Bull BC One is really one of the longest and still today the most prestigious one-on-one breaking competitions in the world," Riley says.
Each competitor will be judged on a variety skills.
"There are five key elements of braking that are going to be looked at," Riley explains. "Top rock, go downs - which are transitions to the floor - footwork - which are steps around your body using your hands and feet - power moves and those are like the head spins, the dynamic moves, the head spins, the flares, and then freeze, ending facing your opponent."
Dance cleanliness, originality, and battling will also be taken into consideration.
Sixteen b-boys and eight b-girls will for a spot at the National Finals in Denver.
"You know, it was huge in the U.S. in the 80s, but it was viewed as kind of a trend and a fad," says Riley. "And so, once it died out in the United States, people in Europe really, really took it on and then Asia. Now it's since become this international worldwide phenomenon where people in every country are doing it in every continent."
The event takes place Saturday night at The Royalton Square beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Cypher will be the first official event to be held at The Royalston Square, a new state-of-the-art venue in the North Loop.
Spectators will enjoy a completely unique audio-visual experience not found at any other breaking competition. Tickets are available for purchase here.
WHERE:
Royalston Square
501 Royalston Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55405
WHEN:
Saturday, March 29
Doors: 6pm
Competition: 7pm